Fortier G M, Erskine M S, Tamarin R H
Department of Biology, Boston University, MA 01760, USA.
Physiol Behav. 1996 Jan;59(1):205-8. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(95)02015-2.
To determine whether neighbor familiarity can affect reproduction, we studied the relationship between familiarity, odor preference, and plasma estradiol levels in the meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus. Bedding was switched between pairs of female meadow voles for 2 wk to allow them to develop olfactory familiarity. When familiarization was complete animals were reexposed, after 24 h of no exposure to conspecific odors, to either the bedding of the familiar female or to the bedding of a new, unfamiliar female. Voles exposed to the bedding of unfamiliar females experienced a dramatic reversal in odor preference and failed to orient towards male odors. This behavioral change was accompanied by a significant decrease in plasma estradiol levels. These changes suggest that exposure to unfamiliar conspecifics may result in reproductive inhibition. Excessive contact between unfamiliar females in the field may be indicative of environmental conditions unfavorable to breeding.
为了确定邻居熟悉程度是否会影响繁殖，我们研究了草原田鼠（Microtus pennsylvanicus）的熟悉程度、气味偏好和血浆雌二醇水平之间的关系。在成对的雌性草原田鼠之间交换垫料，持续2周，以使它们产生嗅觉熟悉感。当熟悉过程完成后，在动物24小时未接触同种气味后，再次让它们接触熟悉雌性的垫料或新的、不熟悉雌性的垫料。接触不熟悉雌性垫料的田鼠在气味偏好上发生了显著逆转，并且不再朝向雄性气味定向。这种行为变化伴随着血浆雌二醇水平的显著下降。这些变化表明，接触不熟悉的同种个体可能导致繁殖抑制。在野外，不熟悉的雌性之间过度接触可能表明环境条件不利于繁殖。
