Studies of the male-originating pheromones involved in the Whitten effect and Bruce effect in mice

Experiments were designed to elucidate the mode of transmission of the male-originating pheromones involved in the induction of estrus (the Whitten effect) and in implantation failure (the Bruce effect) in mice. The Whitten effect was induced in unisexually grouped females by exposure to corralled males, and also by corralled males housed within a perforated cage (which prevented physical contact of the females with the male-originating pheromone). The results suggest that the pheromone involved in the Whitten effect is volatile (airborne). Implantation failure occurred in a significantly high proportion of newly inseminated females when they were individually confined in corrals and housed below corralled alien males. By contrast, implantation failure was significantly reduced when corralled females were housed above corralled alien males. The results indicate that the male-originating pheromone involved in the Bruce effect is nonvolatile and acts on the females through contact. It is suggested that the pheromone involved in the Whitten effect is distinct from the one involved in the Bruce effect.