Urine mouse

Table 3.1 for the putative carriers in saliva, urine and nasal mucus the N-terminal sequences are highlighted against the pig salivary protein. All lipocalins or similar uncharacterised ( 20kDa) fractions with biological activity are extracellular, often found in quantity, 5 g/ml protein in male mouse urine and with a relatively high negative charge. 

Fig. 5.5(a) Segregation of individual VN gmonstrating neuron present in mouse urine, non-overlapping pattern specific ligands (from Leinders-Zufall et ol->... 

Ultra-sound emissions typically occur when male rodents are exposed to female odours or altricial neonates to maternal sources (Whitney, 1974 Conely and Bell, 1978). Without the VNO, sexually inexperienced male mice do not utter emissions at ultra-high frequencies (UHF), whereas those with prior experience vocalise after VN-x, as discussed above (Chap. 5). Female mouse urine contains a unique UHF-eliciting component which is non-volatile but ephemeral (Sipos et al., 1995). The signal is degraded by oxidation and disappears within 15 to 18 hours of deposition. Direct contact with freshly voided urine must occur before males will vocalise (sexually experienced or inexperienced). At least one of the olfactory systems is needed for UHF to be elicited by fresh urine complete deafferentation abolishes the response (Sipos et al., 1993). Exposure to females permits UHF to be elicited by other than chemical cues (Labov and Wysocki, 1989). Nocturnal or cryptic species conceivably use ultrasound to advertise male presence whether this is to deter other males or assist with female location is unclear. 

Hagino-Yamagishi K., Matsuoka M., Wakabayashi Y., Mori Y. and Yazaki K. (2001). The mouse putative pheromone receptor was specifically activated by stimulation with male mouse urine. J Biochem (Tokyo) 129, 509-512. 

Kaneko N., Debski E.A., Wilson M.C. and Whitten W.K. (1980). Puberty acceleration in mice II, Evidence that the vomeronasal organ is a receptor for the primer pheromone in male mouse urine. Biol Reprod 22, 873-878. 

Maruniak J., Wysocki C.J. and Taylor J. (1986). Mediation of male mouse urine marking and aggression by the vomeronasal organ. Physiol Behav 37, 655-657. 

Nishimura K., Utsumi K., Yuhara M., Fujitani Y., et al. (1989). Identification of puberty-accelerating pheromones in male mouse urine. J Exp Zool 251, 300-305. 

Singer A.G., Beauchamp G. and Yamazaki K. (1997). Volatile signals of the major histocompatibility complex in male mouse urine. Proc Natl Acad Sci 94, 2210-2214. 

Novotny, M., Schwende, F.J., Wiesler, D., Jorgenson, J.W. and Carmack, M. (1984) Identification of a testosterone-dependent unique volatile constituent of male mouse urine 7-exo-ethyl-5-methyl-6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]-3-octene. Experientia 40, 217-219. 

Novotny, M.V., Soini, H.A., Koyama, S., Wiesler, D., Bruce, K.E. and Penn, D.J. (2007) Chemical identification of MHC-influenced volatile compounds in mouse urine. I Quantitative proportions of major chemosignals. J. Chem. Ecol. 33, 417—434. 

Peele, P., Salazar, I., Mimmack, M., Keveme, E. B. and Brennan, P. A. (2003) Low molecular weight constituents of male mouse urine mediate the pregnancy block effect and convey information about the identity of the mating male. Eur. J. Neurosci. 18, 622-8. 

Baum, M.J. and Keverne, E.B. (2002) Sex difference in attraction thresholds for volatile odors from male and estrous female mouse urine. Horm. Behav. 41, 213-219. 

For our purposes, oaks are important because they drop the acorns that determine how many white-footed mice successfully withstand the harsh winter months. Before winter arrives, however, a multitude of other factors has influenced the number of mice available to gather the acorns. One of these factors is the mice s reproductive activity, and this happens to be under the influence of some peculiar pheromones. Because they contribute to determining the number of mice, these chemicals also enter our story. They are airborne signals present in adult-mouse urine that affect the maturation and reproductive success of young female mice. 

An investigation of the stereochemistry of the urinary substances eliciting intermale aggression in the house mouse established that (l ,7.R)-3,4-dehydro-exo-brevicomin is present in the urine. Due to extremely facile racemization under very mild conditions, it was concluded that 2-sec-butyl-4,5-dihydrothi-azole 2 it is present in the urine as the racemate. It was suggested that the acidity of mouse urine probably promotes racemization of the optically active compound derived biosynthetically from an amino acid [36]. The observation that female house mice prefer the urinary odors of males uninfected by the intestinal nematode Heligmosomoidespolygyrus suggests that urine may also be important in conveying information on the infection status of males [37]. 

The concentrations of 16 constituents of male mouse urine vary with the male s dominance status. Dihydrofurans, ketones, and acetates decreased in subordinates. Two sesquiterpene compounds, a- and /3-farnesene, are elevated in dominants urine 1 week after establishing dominance. The bladder or voided urine of dominants contains more 2-5ec-butyl-4,5-dihydrothiazole. Four compounds depend on hormones a- and /5-farnesene, dehydro-exo-brevicomin, and 2-5cc -butyl-4,5-dihydrothiazole. The latter two are absent in urine of immature or castrated males, and testosterone treatment restores their presence. In addition, a-and /3-farnesene do not occur in urine of immature males and are merely reduced in urine of castrates. They are not found in bladder urine and originate in the preputial glands (Harvey etal., 1989). While subordinate male mice have reduced levels of farnesenes, levels of their major urinary proteins remain high (Malone etal, 2001). 

FIGURE 8.3 Puberty-delaying compounds in female mouse urine. 

Male mouse urine applied directly to the external nares of the female produces pregnancy block (Dominic, 1964). In mice, the vomeronasal mediates this block (Bellringer etal., 1980). The pregnancy-block pheromone of the male may be a product of androgen metabolism, and not one of androgen-dependent... 

Saliva and especially urine contain epidermal growth factor, a small protein, which may be very important to stimulate plant growth (Dyer, 1980). Epidermal growth factor from mouse urine stimulates growth in sorghum seedlings and the effect is proportional to the amount used. 

Cowley, J. J. and Wise, D. R. (1972). Some effects of mouse urine on neonatal growth and reproduction. Animal Behaviour 20,499-506. 

Gangrade, B. K. and Dominic, C. J. (1986). Effect of storage and lyophilization on estrus-inducing capacity of male mouse urine. Indian Journal ofExperimental Biology 24,728-729. 

Lombardi, J. R., Vandenbergh, J. G., and Whitsett, J. M. (1976). Androgen control of the sexual maturation pheromone in house mouse urine. Biology ofReproduction 15,179-186. 

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