Female behavior is affected by male ultrasonic vocalizations in house mice

Pomerantz, Steven M.; Núñez, Antonio A.; Bean, N. Jay

doi:10.1016/0031-9384(83)90101-4

Cited by 179 publications

(126 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Even if some authors have questioned the role of the female mouse vocalization in naturalistic conditions [35], during resident-intruder interactions it has been interpreted as a main factor contributing to the establishment of female social dominance hierarchies [32]. These calls may serve as communication signals, enhancing physical proximity and enabling social information gathering [11,32,33,41]. Since the Avpr1b −/− showed social sniffing responses (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduced ultrasonic vocalizations in vasopressin 1b knockout mice

Scattoni¹,

McFarlane²,

Zhodzishsky³

et al. 2008

Behavioural Brain Research

129

114

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The neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin have been implicated in rodent social and affiliative behaviors, including social bonding, parental care, social recognition, social memory, vocalizations, territoriality, and aggression, as well as components of human social behaviors and the etiology of autism. Previous investigations of mice with various manipulations of the oxytocin and vasopressin systems reported unusual levels of ultrasonic vocalizations in social settings. We employed a vasopressin 1b receptor (Avpr1b) knockout mouse to evaluate the role of the vasopressin 1b receptor subtype in the emission of ultrasonic vocalizations in adult and infant mice. Avpr1b null mutant female mice emitted fewer ultrasonic vocalizations, and their vocalizations were generally at lower frequencies, during a resident-intruder test. Avpr1b null mutant pups emitted ultrasonic vocalizations similar to heterozygote and wildtype littermates when separated from the nest on postnatal days 3, 6, 9, and 12. However, maternal potentiation of ultrasonic vocalizations in Avpr1b null and heterozygote mutants was absent, when tested at postnatal day 9. These results indicate that Avpr1b null mutant mice are impaired in the modulation of ultrasonic vocalizations within different social contexts at infant and adult ages.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduced ultrasonic vocalizations in vasopressin 1b knockout mice

Scattoni¹,

McFarlane²,

Zhodzishsky³

et al. 2008

Behavioural Brain Research

129

114

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…If males from the monogamous lines were able to produce higher-quality scents, or scent mark more frequently in the 'presence' of a rival male, then they would be preferred over males that had evolved with sperm competition. Alternatively, or additionally, variation in male ultrasonic vocalization could have influenced female social interest and inspection behaviour [24,25]. The ability of 'monogamous' males to better attract females could explain why they gained paternity representation in ca 50% of litters that were produced in free-ranging enclosures [19].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Female social preference for males that have evolved via monogamy: evidence of a trade-off between pre- and post-copulatory sexually selected traits?

Firman

2014

Biol. Lett.

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When females mate with multiple males both pre- and post-copulatory sexual selections occur. It has been suggested that females benefit from polyandry when better-quality males are successful in sperm competition and sire high-quality offspring. Indeed, studies of experimental evolution have confirmed that sperm competition selects for both increased ejaculate quality and elevated offspring viability. Fewer investigations have explored whether these fitness benefits are evident beyond early life-history stages. Here, I used house mice ( Mus domesticus ) from selection lines that had been evolving for 25 generations under either polygamy or monogamy to test whether females preferred males from lines that had evolved with sperm competition. Males from the polygamous lines had previously been shown to achieve a fitness advantage under semi-natural conditions, deeming them to be of high genetic quality and leading to the a priori expectation that females would prefer males that had evolved with sperm competition compared with males that had not. Contrary to expectation, the data showed that sexually receptive females spent more time associating with males from the monogamous lines. This unexpected but interesting result is discussed in relation to sperm competition theory that predicts a trade-off between male investment in pre- and post-copulatory sexually selected traits.

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“…Females are more attracted to vocalizing than nonvocalizing males (muted by surgical abduction), and male ultrasonic vocalizations prolong the time females spend near potential mating partners (Pomerantz et al, 1983). Studies using recorded USV playback also indicate that females are attracted to males' USVs.…”

Section: Functions Of Usvs In Mate Choicementioning

confidence: 99%