The role of pheromones in the regulation of estrous cycle duration in the guinea pig.

A decrease in estrous cycle duration, due to shortening of the period of vaginal closure (VC), has been observed in female guinea pigs exposed to the odor of urine from males of the same species. VC shortening was also observed in females exposed to the odor of female urine collected during the period of vaginal opening (VO). No alteration in VC duration occurred, however, in females exposed to urine collected in the 1st 7 days of VC. Also VC shortening did not occur in bulbectomized females exposed to the odor of male urine. Therefore, it was concluded that guinea pig urine, when highly concentrated, contains pheromones capable of shortening estrous cycle VC.