Two-Way Choice Test for Social Odors in Mice

Two-way choice apparatus (T-maze) for testing mouse responses to odors of conspecifics 

Miiller-Schwarze, Hands-On Chemical Ecology Simple Field and Laboratory Exercises, DOI 10.1007/978-l-4419-0378-5 20, Springer Science-tBusiness Media, LLC 2009 

This exercise and the next both deal with scent communication in mice. We practice two techniques frequently used in the Animal Behavior laboratory In this first experiment, we test a mammal s response to conspecific odors in a two-way choice apparatus, also called a Y- or T-maze, an often used bioassay device. [In the following experiment (Chap. 21), we observe and quantify scent marking behavior in response to two different stimuli in an open field. ] 

Dominant adult males mark very frequently. This advertises their aggressive dominance over the other resident and intruder males. Dominant males overmark other males urine marks, while marks by dominant males are merely investigated by others. Dominant male marks guide dominant and subordinate males to stay within their territory and to avoid areas marked by other dominant males (Hurst 1990a). Juveniles use urine marks to stay within their parental territory. 

Urine marking is also important in female-female communication. Resident breeding females countermark breeding female urine, especially of neighbors. Females appear to advertise their dominant breeding status to other females by means of urine marks (Hurst 1990b). 

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