Microtus ochrogaster female

Kriegsfeld, L. J., Hotchkiss, A. K., Demas, G. E., Silverman, A. J., Silver, R. and Nelson, R. J. Brain mast cells are influenced by chemosensory cues associated with estrus induction in female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Horm. Behav. 44 377-384, 2003. 

Curtis, J. T., Liu, Y. and Wang, Z. (2001) Lesions of the vomeronasal organ disrupt mating-induced pair bonding in female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Brain Res. 18, 167-174. 

Shapiro, L.E., Austin, D., Ward, S.E. and Dewsbury, D.A. (1986) Familiarity and female mate choic ein two species of voles (Microtus ochrogaster and Microtus montanus). Anim. Behav. 34, 90-97. 

Neonatal female mice are retarded in their growth if urine from virgin adult female mice is applied to their nostrils, while urine from pseudopregnant females accelerates growth (Cowley and Wise, 1972). Both sexes of prairie voles [Microtus ochrogaster) arrest their growth when held together as littermates or exposed to air from littermates (Fig. 8.1 Batzli etal, 1977). 

Carter, C. S., Getz, L. L., Gavish, L., McDermott, J. L. Arnold, P. 1980. Male-related pheromones and the activation of female reproduction in the prairie vole Microtus ochrogaster). Biol. Reprod., 23, 1038—1045. 

Solomon, N. G. 1993. Body size and social preferences of male and female prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster. Anim. Behav., 45, 1031—1033. 

In our present studies we addressed three questions 1) Is the testosterone level of males an important endocrine determinant of the attractiveness of male odors to females 2) Does the nutritional history (i.e., quality) of males influence the attractiveness of their odors to females 3) Are the odor preferences of females consistent with female social and mate preferences We used the prairie vole Microtus ochrogaster), a monogamous species of arvicoline rodent, as our model species. All animals were obtained from an outbred colony maintained at Murray State University. The animals were housed on a 14L 10D light cycle at 23 2°C and fed Purina Rodent Chow 5001. Animals were weaned at 20 d of age and caged individually. No animal was tested more than once unless otherwise stated. 

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