Whitten Effect

The male mouse produces a scent in his urine which induces and accelerates the estrus cycles of the female. This effect will be greater in females in which estrus was suppressed by aggregation. According to Nichols and Chevin (373), male urine is less effective than male presence in inducing the estrus cycle, while Gangrade and Dominic s (341) studies suggested that in contrast to the Bruce effect, the pheromone involved in the Whitten effect is a volatile substance. 

Recently Jemiolo et al. (351), observed that two volatile constituents of male mouse urine, 2-(5 c-butyl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole (67) and 3,4-de-hydro-exo-brevicomin (65), which is also involved in promoting aggressive behavior in males, when added in appropriate concentration were found to be as effective as normal urine in inducing the Whitten effect. 

Gangrade and Dominic (340) also observed that adrenalectomized females respond to the odor of male urine by exhibiting estrus acceleration and synchronization. Thus, adrenals are not involved in estrus cycle irregularities observed in the Whitten effect. 

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Jemiolo, B., Harvey, S. and Novotny M. (1986) Promotion of Whitten effect in female mice by the synthetic analogs of male urinary constituents. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83, 4576-4579. 

These effects have names associated with their discoverers the induction of estrus in adult females by males is known as the Whitten effect the acceleration of puberty in immature females by males is known as the Vanderburgh effect. Perhaps you can work these terms into the conversation at your next cocktail party. People may be impressed. 

Whitten effect the induction of estrus in adult females by males. 

Urine odor of adult males induces and synchronizes estrus cycles in adult female mice (Whitten, 1958). The cycles grow shorter and more regular when a male is nearby. A male shortens cycles of 7-8 days to 4-5 days. Exposure to male urine for 48 hours has the same effect. This phenomenon is known as the Whitten effect. The estrus-inducing activity of male urine is retained even after storage at -4 °C or freeze-drying (Gangrade and Dominic, 1986). This has... 

Gangrade, B.K., and C.J. Dominic Studies on the Male-Originating Pheromones Involved in the Whitten Effect and Bruce Effect in Mice. Biol. Reprod. 31, 89-96... 

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