Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
J Chem Ecol. 2011 Jul;37(7):687-94. doi: 10.1007/s10886-011-9971-y. Epub 2011 Jun 7.
Chemosensory information mediates behavior in many rodent genera. Major Urinary Proteins (MUPs) facilitate chemical communication in some species of mice. We sought to demonstrate the importance of MUPs in chemosignaling across a range of rodent genera that live in different habitats and social structures. We analyzed urine from three subterranean rodent genera from different continents, and with diverse social systems: eusocial Zambian mole-rats (Fukomys), solitary Israeli blind mole rats (Spalax), and social Chilean coruros (Spalacopus). 2D gel electrophoresis revealed low levels of protein, with sequences similar to aphrodisin, in Fukomys mole-rat urine, but no MUPs in urine of any of the studied species. Previous research demonstrated that subjects from the tested genera responded differentially to odors indicating transmission of individuality, family/colony or population, species, and reproductive state in secretions and excretions of conspecifics. This extends, to subterranean rodents, the evidence that rodent species can successfully transmit and receive chemosignals without the necessity of MUPs.
化学感觉信息在许多啮齿动物属中调节行为。主要尿蛋白（MUP）在某些种类的老鼠中促进化学通讯。我们试图证明 MUP 在不同栖息地和社会结构的各种啮齿动物属中的化学信号传递中的重要性。我们分析了来自三个不同大陆的地下啮齿动物属的尿液，这些属具有不同的社会系统：共生的赞比亚鼹鼠（Fukomys）、独居的以色列盲鼹鼠（Spalax）和社会性的智利科鲁罗斯（Spalacopus）。2D 凝胶电泳显示，在 Fukomys 鼹鼠尿液中存在低水平的蛋白，其序列与 aphrodisin 相似，但在所研究的任何物种的尿液中都没有 MUPs。先前的研究表明，来自测试属的受试者对气味有不同的反应，表明个体、家庭/群体或种群、物种和生殖状态的信息在同种分泌物和排泄物中传递。这将啮齿动物能够成功传递和接收化学信号而无需 MUPs 的证据扩展到了地下啮齿动物。
