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Updated: Mar 8, 2026
Assessment of Sexual Behavior of Male Mice
Published on: March 5, 2020
Effect of Male House Mouse Pheromone Components on Behavioral Responses of Mice in Laboratory and Field Experiments
Antonia E Musso1, Regine Gries1, Huimin Zhai1
1Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada.
Abstract:
Urine of male house mice, Mus musculus, is known to have primer pheromone effects on the reproductive physiology of female mice. Urine-mediated releaser pheromone effects that trigger certain behavioral responses are much less understood, and no field studies have investigated whether urine deposits by male or female mice, or synthetic mouse pheromone, increase trap captures of mice. In field experiments, we baited traps with bedding soiled with urine and feces of caged female or male mice, and recorded captures of mice in these and in control traps containing clean bedding. Traps baited with female bedding preferentially captured adult males, whereas traps baited with male bedding preferentially captured juvenile and adult females, indicating the presence of male- and female-specific sex pheromones in soiled bedding. Analyses of headspace volatiles emanating from soiled bedding by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry revealed that 3,4-dehydro-exo-brevicomin (DEB) was seven times more prevalent in male bedding and that 2-sec-butyl-4,5-dihydrothiazole (DHT) was male-specific. In a follow-up field experiment, traps baited with DEB and DHT captured 4 times more female mice than corresponding control traps, thus indicating that DEB and DHT are sex attractant pheromone components of house mouse males. Our study provides impetus to identify the sex attractant pheromone of female mice, and to develop synthetic mouse pheromone as a lure to enhance the efficacy of trapping programs for mouse control.
Insights
Mouse urine contains sex pheromones that attract specific sexes. Male mouse urine compounds, 3,4-dehydro-exo-brevicomin (DEB) and 2-sec-butyl-4,5-dihydrothiazole (DHT), significantly increased female mouse captures in field traps.
Area of Science:
- Animal Behavior
- Chemical Ecology
- Mammalian Reproduction
Background:
- Mouse urine is known to influence female reproductive physiology via primer pheromones.
- The role of urine-mediated releaser pheromones in triggering behavioral responses and their application in field studies remain less understood.
- No prior field studies have assessed if mouse urine deposits or synthetic pheromones enhance trap captures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and effect of sex-specific pheromones in house mouse (Mus musculus) urine on trapping efficacy.
- To identify specific volatile compounds in male and female mouse urine responsible for behavioral responses.
- To evaluate the potential of synthetic mouse pheromones for improving pest control trapping strategies.
Main Methods:
- Field experiments were conducted using traps baited with bedding soiled by male or female mice.
- Captured mice were recorded, and control traps with clean bedding were used for comparison.
- Headspace volatiles from soiled bedding were analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to identify specific compounds.
Main Results:
- Traps baited with female bedding preferentially captured adult males.
- Traps baited with male bedding preferentially captured juvenile and adult females.
- 3,4-dehydro-exo-brevicomin (DEB) and 2-sec-butyl-4,5-dihydrothiazole (DHT) were identified in male bedding; DEB and DHT baited traps captured significantly more female mice.
Conclusions:
- Mouse urine contains sex-specific pheromones that influence trapping success.
- DEB and DHT are identified as key sex attractant pheromone components in male house mice.
- Synthetic mouse pheromones show promise for enhancing the effectiveness of mouse trapping programs for control.
