Spalax ehrenbergi

Bioassay of alternate molecular forms supports the view that the ORs are capable of resolving isomeric distinctions in neutral (non-biological) odourants. Stereochemical pairs of odours were tested for differential sensitivities in the blind subterranean mole rat (Spalax ehrenbergi). The subjects responded to one enantiomer, but not to its stereoisomer. Both sexes were attracted to the odour of R-(-)-carvone but unresponsive to S-(+)-carvone in contrast, males and females were repelled by the odour of (+)-citronellol, but not by (-)-citronellol (Heth et al., 1992). The lack of responsiveness by mole rats could be central due to lack of salience, or peripheral due to hyposmia/anosmia for one isomer. Both carvones have distinct odours for the human nose. 

Heth G., Nevo E., Ikan R., Weinstein Y., et ai. (1992). Differential olfactory perception of enantiomeric compounds by blind subterranean mole rats (Spalax ehrenbergi). Experientia 48, 897-902. 

Mole rats of the superspecies Spalax ehrenbergi occur in four main chromosome forms 2n = 52, 54, 58, and 60. Females of two of these forms (52 and 58) were given choices between soiled bedding (or urine) from males of a homochromoso-mal or a heterochromosomal form. The females were estrous or diestrous. Only estrous females preferred soiled bedding and urine of homochromosomal males, measured in time spent near the odor samples. Diestrous females showed no preference (Nevo etal, 1976). 

Todrank, J., and Heth, G., 1996, Individual odours in two chromosomal species of blind, subterranean mole rate (Spalax ehrenbergi) conspecific and cross-species discrimination. Ethology 101.806-811. 

Nevo, E. Heth, G. 1976. Assortative mating between chromosome forms of the mole rat, Spalax ehrenbergi. Ex-perientia, 32, 1509—1510. 

Heth, G., Beauchamp, G. K., Nevo, E., laboratory rats. Chemoecology, 7 107—111. 

Nevo, E. 1991. Evolutionary theory and processes of active speciation and adaptive radiation in subterranean mole rats, Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies in Israel. Evol. Biol., 25, 1—125. 

Pevet, P, Heth, G., Haim, A., Nevo, E. 1984. Photoperiod perception in the blind Mole Rat Spalax ehrenbergi, Nehring) Involvment of the Harderian gland, atrophied eyes, and Melatonin. J. Exp. ZooL, 232, 41—50. 

Zuri, I. Terkel, J. 1996. Locomotor patterns, territory and tunnel utilization in the mole-rat Spalax ehrenbergi. J. ZooL, Lond., 240, 123—140. 

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