Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Maternal pheromone in Rattus norvegicus.

F Clegg, D I Williams

Behavioral and Neural Biology

|March 1, 1983

Summary

Researchers attempted to replicate findings on maternal pheromones in young rats. Despite testing various conditions, no clear evidence of a maternal pheromone was found, though pups could detect maternal odors.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Treatment-limiting renal tubulopathy in patients treated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

The Journal of infection·2017

Same author

A prospective randomised comparison of the LMA ProSeal™ versus endotracheal tube on the severity of postoperative pain following gynaecological laparoscopy.

Anaesthesia and intensive care·2013

Same author

Intensive Treatment of Gonorrhœa and Non-Specific Urethritis with Sulphapyridine.

The British journal of venereal diseases·2011

Same author

HYPERTHERMIA IN THE TREATMENT OF RESISTANT GONOCOCCAL AND NON-SPECIFIC URETHRITIS.

The British journal of venereal diseases·2011

Same author

SULPHONAMIDE THERAPY OF GONORRHOEA IN THE MALE: REVIEW OF FOUR YEARS' EXPERIENCE.

The British journal of venereal diseases·2011

Same author

The treatment of infective arthritis with special reference to hyperthermia.

The British journal of venereal diseases·2010

Area of Science:

Animal behavior
Olfactory communication
Mammalian reproduction

Background:

Rat pups (Rattus norvegicus) aged 14-28 days are reported to approach an attractant in lactating female excrement.
This attractant has been termed a maternal pheromone, suggesting a role in social and reproductive behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

To replicate the finding of a maternal pheromone in rat pups.
To investigate the olfactory cues and behavioral responses of preweaning rat pups to maternal stimuli.

Main Methods:

Tested preweaning pups from three rat strains (PVG/C, Wistar, Sprague-Dawley).
Utilized varied apparatus, stimuli, and pretest experiences to optimize detection.
Focused on olfactory properties of stimulus material derived from lactating females.

Main Results:

No clear evidence for a maternal pheromone was demonstrated, even with maximized olfactory properties.
Rat pups showed an ability to use olfactory cues and discriminate maternal odor.
Observed behaviors did not meet the criteria for a pheromonal response.

Conclusions:

The existence of a maternal pheromone in the studied rat pups remains unconfirmed.
While rat pups can detect maternal odors, this response may not be pheromone-mediated.
Further research is needed to elucidate the specific olfactory mechanisms driving pup attraction to maternal cues.

Related Experiment Videos