Gangrade B K, Dominic C J
Biol Reprod. 1984 Aug;31(1):89-96. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod31.1.89.
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.
实验旨在阐明雄性来源的信息素在诱导小鼠发情（惠顿效应）和着床失败（布鲁斯效应）中的传播方式。将单性分组的雌性小鼠暴露于圈养的雄性小鼠中，以及暴露于置于穿孔笼中的圈养雄性小鼠（这可防止雌性小鼠与雄性来源的信息素发生身体接触），从而诱导出惠顿效应。结果表明，参与惠顿效应的信息素是挥发性的（通过空气传播）。当新受精的雌性小鼠单独禁闭在畜栏中并饲养在圈养的陌生雄性小鼠下方时，着床失败的比例显著较高。相比之下，当圈养的雌性小鼠饲养在圈养的陌生雄性小鼠上方时，着床失败率显著降低。结果表明，参与布鲁斯效应的雄性来源信息素是非挥发性的，通过接触作用于雌性小鼠。有人认为，参与惠顿效应的信息素与参与布鲁斯效应的信息素不同。
