| Title: | Orientation of newborn mice to lactating females: identifying biological substrates of semiochemical interest |
| Author(s): | Al Ain S; Chraiti A; Schaal B; Patris B; |
| Address: | "Developmental Ethology and Cognitive Psychology Group, Centre des Sciences du Gout et de l'Alimentation, CNRS (UMR 6265), Universite de Bourgogne-Inra, Dijon, France. syrina_al-ain@etu.u-bourgogne.fr" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1098-2302 (Electronic) 0012-1630 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Among mammals, odor-based communication between females and infants is decisive for neonatal survival. So far, the nature of odor substrates involved in the localization of the mother and their nipples is unknown in mice. The present study aims: (1) to evaluate the specific attractive value of lactating females to newborn mice, (2) to localize the abdominal region that is most attractive to pups, and (3) to identify odor substrates that support such attraction. Results showed that 5-6-day-old mice roam preferentially over the abdomen of lactating females than the abdomen of non-lactating females. In lactating females, pups are more attracted to abdominal areas comprising nipples. The blend of odor substrates from nipples, as well as separate sources presumed to compose it, viz. milk, maternal saliva and pup saliva, were detectable and equivalently attractive to pups. The equivalent attraction of these different odor substrates may derive either from overlap in chemical constituents, or from associative learning during nursing" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Animals, Newborn Behavior, Animal/*physiology Female Lactation/*physiology Male Mice Nipples/*physiology Odorants Orientation/*physiology Pheromones/*physiology Smell/physiology;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineAl Ain, Syrina Chraiti, Amal Schaal, Benoist Patris, Bruno eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2012/01/04 Dev Psychobiol. 2013 Mar; 55(2):113-24. doi: 10.1002/dev.21003. Epub 2011 Dec 28" |
