Mating patterns in seminatural populations of mice influenced by MHC genotype

Potts, Wayne K.; Manning, C. Jo; Wakeland, Edward K.

doi:10.1038/352619a0

Cited by 607 publications

(374 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…In small, bottlenecked populations where MHC diversity may be reduced-as is the case in the Seychelles warbler (Richardson & Westerdahl 2003)-behavioural strategies maximizing the MHC diversity may be especially important (Aeschlimann et al 2003). Other studies have shown that individuals may maximize the MHC diversity of their offspring by mating disassortatively (Potts et al 1991;Wedekind & Furi 1997), or that they may optimize it by 'allele counting' (Reusch et al 2001;Aeschlimann et al 2003). Our study found no evidence that Seychelles warblers use either of these strategies (though it should be noted that the power of the analysis to detect small effects was limited and so null results must be treated with some caution).…”

Section: Discussion (A) Mhc-based Mate Choicementioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, olfactory cues may be used to assess the MHC composition of potential partners and, subsequently, to choose a mate (Potts et al 1991;Wedekind & Furi 1997;Landry et al 2001;Reusch et al 2001;Aeschlimann et al 2003). Despite popular belief to the contrary, olfactory cues can be important in birds (Ioale & Papi 1989;Clark et al 1993;Hagelin et al 2003) and smell could be used to assess the MHC of potential partners.…”

Section: Discussion (A) Mhc-based Mate Choicementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Various studies have provided evidence that MHCbased mate choice occurs in mammals and fishes (Yamazaki et al 1988;Potts et al 1991;Ober et al 1997;Wedekind & Furi 1997;Penn & Potts 1999;Reusch et al 2001;Aeschlimann et al 2003), though some other studies have found no such patterns (Hedrick & Black 1997;Paterson & Pemberton 1997;Wedekind et al 2004). Although birds have been used extensively for studies of sexual selection and mate choice, little work has focused on the role of the MHC (von Schantz et al , 1997.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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MHC-based patterns of social and extra-pair mate choice in the Seychelles warbler

et al. 2005

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The existence and nature of indirect genetic benefits to mate choice remain contentious. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, which play a vital role in determining pathogen resistance in vertebrates, may be the link between mate choice and the genetic inheritance of vigour in offspring. Studies have shown that MHC-dependent mate choice can occur in mammal and fish species, but little work has focused on the role of the MHC in birds. We tested for MHC-dependent mating patterns in the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis). There was no influence of MHC class I exon 3 variation on the choice of social mate. However, females were more likely to obtain extra-pair paternity (EPP) when their social mate had low MHC diversity, and the MHC diversity of the extra-pair male was significantly higher than that of the cuckolded male. There was no evidence that females were mating disassortatively, or that they preferred males with an intermediate number of MHC bands. Overall, the results are consistent with the 'good genes' rather than the 'genetic compatibility' hypothesis. As female choice will result in offspring of higher MHC diversity, MHC-dependent EPP may provide indirect benefits in the Seychelles warbler if survival is positively linked to MHC diversity.

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Section: Discussion (A) Mhc-based Mate Choicementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussion (A) Mhc-based Mate Choicementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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MHC-based patterns of social and extra-pair mate choice in the Seychelles warbler

et al. 2005

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“…It is noteworthy that variability of such magnitude may be typical of the natural situation under which these odors are detected in the context of mate choice and other social behaviors. H-2 odortypes in natural situations must be detected against a much more variable genetic background (13,14) than occurs among these congenic mice, which are genetically identical at all loci except H-2.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Volatile signals of the major histocompatibility complex in male mouse urine

Singer

Beauchamp

Yamazaki

1997

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

231

168

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Variation in the genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) contributes to unique individual odors (odortypes) in mice, as demonstrated by the ability of trained mice in a Y-maze olfactometer to discriminate nearly identical inbred mice that differ genetically only at the MHC (MHC congenic mice), while they cannot distinguish genetically identical inbred mice. Similar distinctions are possible with urine, a substance that is involved in many facets of mouse chemical communication. This paper reports results supporting the hypothesis that the MHC-determined urinary odor is composed of a mixture of volatile carboxylic acids occurring in relative concentrations that are characteristic of the odortype. Y-maze behavioral testing of urine fractions from anion exchange chromatography indicates that volatile acids are necessary and sufficient to convey MHC odortype information. Diethyl ether extracts, which are expected to contain the more volatile, less polar organic acids, were also discriminable in the Y-maze olfactometer. Ether extracts of 12 different urine samples from each of two panels of MHC congenic mice were analyzed by gas chromatography. No compounds unique to urine of either genotype were detected, but compounds did appear to occur in characteristic ratios in most of the samples of each type. Nonparametric statistical analysis of the gas chromatographic data showed that eight of the peaks occurred in significantly different relative concentrations in the congenic samples. One of the peaks was shown to represent phenylacetic acid, which has implications for the mechanism of the MHC specification of odortype.

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“…Several studies have shown evidence of MHC-related mate choice in many vertebrates (Potts et al 1991;Reusch et al 2001;Roberts & Gosling 2003), but its adaptive significance is not clear. Analysis of point mutations (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MHC-mediated mate choice increases parasite resistance in salmon

2008

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Natural (parasite-driven) and sexual selection are thought to maintain high polymorphism in the genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), but support for a link between mate choice, MHC variation and increased parasite resistance is circumstantial. We compared MHC diversity and Anisakis loads among anadromous Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) returning to four rivers to spawn, which had originated from natural spawning (parents allowed to mate freely) or artificial crosses (parents deprived from the potential benefits of mate choice). We found that the offspring of artificially bred salmon had higher parasite loads and were almost four times more likely to be infected than free-mating salmon, despite having similar levels of MHC diversity. Moreover, the offspring of wild salmon were more MHC dissimilar than the offspring of artificially crossed salmon, and uninfected fish were more dissimilar for MHC than infected fish. Thus, our results suggest a link between disassortative mating and offspring benefits and indicate that MHC-mediated mate choice and natural (parasite-driven) selection act in combination to maintain MHC diversity, and hence fitness. Therefore, artificial breeding programmes that negate the potential genetic benefits of mate choice may result in inherently inferior offspring, regardless of population size, rearing conditions or genetic diversity.

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Mating patterns in seminatural populations of mice influenced by MHC genotype

Cited by 607 publications

References 24 publications

MHC-based patterns of social and extra-pair mate choice in the Seychelles warbler

MHC-based patterns of social and extra-pair mate choice in the Seychelles warbler

Volatile signals of the major histocompatibility complex in male mouse urine

MHC-mediated mate choice increases parasite resistance in salmon

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