The Olfactory Sexual Preferences of Golden Hamster (Mesocricetus Auratus): The Effects of Early Social and Sexual Experience

Surov, A. V.; Solovieva, Antonina V.; Minaev, Alexander N.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-0671-3_34

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…These findings differ from previous research showing experience-dependent development of species-specific odor preferences in hamsters. Male Syrian hamsters reared by Turkish hamster dams display decreased preference to investigate anesthetized conspecific females [22], whereas male hamsters cross-fostered into rat litters show increased attraction to investigate rat odors [49]. There are several critical differences between our study and these previous studies that may explain the discrepancy.…”

Section: Sexual Odor Preferencescontrasting

confidence: 76%

“…This methodological distinction is important, as any behavioral effects that result from cross-fostering are confounded by species differences in parental care or social interactions [50]. Second, the previous studies [22,49] examined a different type of odor preference (species preference) compared to the current study (sexual preference). It is therefore possible that these different types of odor preferences are regulated by distinct developmental factors.…”

Section: Sexual Odor Preferencesmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…There are several critical differences between our study and these previous studies that may explain the discrepancy. First, whereas the approach of the current study was to eliminate opposite-sex odors from the early environment, the previous studies [22,49] employed cross-fostering techniques to alter early experience. This methodological distinction is important, as any behavioral effects that result from cross-fostering are confounded by species differences in parental care or social interactions [50].…”

Section: Sexual Odor Preferencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Olfactory experience and the development of odor preference and vaginal marking in female Syrian hamsters

Maras

Petrulis

2008

Physiology & Behavior

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Rodent reproductive behavior relies heavily on odor processing, and evidence suggests that many odor-guided sexual behaviors are shaped by prior experience. We sought to determine if exposure to male odors during development is required for the adult expression of proceptive sexual behavior toward male odors in female Syrian hamsters. Exposure to male odors was restricted in naïve subjects by removing all male siblings from the litter at three to five days of age. Control litters were also culled, but included equal numbers of male and female pups. As adults, naïve females displayed investigatory preferences toward male odors in a Y-maze that were comparable to control females; this preference was observed whether contact with the odor stimuli was prevented of allowed. In contrast, naïve females vaginal scent-marked equally toward male and female volatile odors, suggesting an inability to target behavior toward sexually relevant odors. However, naïve females marked preferentially toward male odors when allowed to contact the odor stimuli. These results provide evidence for the experience-dependent development of vaginal marking behavior toward volatile components of sexual odors. Furthermore, they suggest that distinct mechanisms regulate the development of odor preferences and vaginal marking behavior in this species.

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Section: Sexual Odor Preferencescontrasting

confidence: 76%

Section: Sexual Odor Preferencesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Sexual Odor Preferencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Olfactory experience and the development of odor preference and vaginal marking in female Syrian hamsters

Maras

Petrulis

2008

Physiology & Behavior

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“…Males mate with more than 1 female, and their female partners can mate with other males. Fragmentary observations made in nature support the opinion that males do not monopolize females ( Vasilieva et al 1988 ; Telitsyna 1993 ; Surov 2006 ; Wynne-Edwards et al 1992 ). It is also possible that the female focuses on other quality markers of the male, unrelated to those, which determine the advantage in direct competition between males (body mass, aggressiveness, testosterone).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Information about their mating system in nature is quite scarce, so it is safe to speak only about polygamy ( Vasilieva et al 1988 ; Wynne-Edwards et al 1992 ; Telitsyna 1993 ; Surov 2006 ). Receptive females attract males from a distance of up to 1 km, and may mate with several males ( Wynne-Edwards et al 1992 ; Surov 2006 ). In captivity, adult males act aggressively toward each other from the age of 2 months, and their cohabitation in the same cage often leads to the death of one of them.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Females choose gentle, but not healthy or macho males in Campbell dwarf hamsters (Phodopus campbelliThomas 1905)

et al. 2016

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Androgen-dependent male sexual traits (STs) as well as immunocompetence are theoretically assumed to be key indicators of a male’s quality for the mate-choosing female. We studied mate choice by sexually motivated (SM) females of Campbell’s dwarf hamsters. Females chose between 2 tethered male siblings that differed in expression of STs. Males were unrelated to the female and able to contact and copulate with her. In both males, we measured sex-related morphology of body mass, mid-ventral specific skin gland, ano-genital distance, and external testicular diameter. We also estimated levels of blood testosterone and cortisol, specific T- and B-cell immune responses to antigens, as well as aggressive and sexual dominance in sibling males through additional encounter experiments with another SM female (male sibs could freely compete for the female). We found that SM females chose a partner among 2 male sibs and spent over 80% of their time on average with the preferred male compared with the non-preferred one. Her choice was not associated with the first visit of the chosen male, with a higher expression of sex-related traits, higher levels of blood testosterone, or with aggressive dominance. The choice was not associated with the intensity of T-cell immune response to phitohemagglutinin (PHA). Instead there was a tendency for a negative relationship with the expression of STs and B-cell response to the antigen challenge. The only character that unambiguously influenced female choice was the non-aggressive male to female grooming during sexual contact. There was no difference in breeding success between preferred and non-preferred males paired with virgin females.

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The Influence of Early Olfactory Experience on Mate Choice in Mammals: Evolutionary Aspects

2018

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The Olfactory Sexual Preferences of Golden Hamster (Mesocricetus Auratus): The Effects of Early Social and Sexual Experience

Cited by 5 publications

References 15 publications

Olfactory experience and the development of odor preference and vaginal marking in female Syrian hamsters

Olfactory experience and the development of odor preference and vaginal marking in female Syrian hamsters

Females choose gentle, but not healthy or macho males in Campbell dwarf hamsters (Phodopus campbelliThomas 1905)

The Influence of Early Olfactory Experience on Mate Choice in Mammals: Evolutionary Aspects

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