Reactions to odors from receptive and nonreceptive female rats were observed in 29 sexually experienced males, 24 naive males, and 23 castrates. Sex experience and odor preference tests took place in S's home cage. Experienced males preferred receptive female odor over nonreceptive female odor (p < .001), but naive males and castrates showed no preference. In another experiment, reactions of 29 sexually experienced and 30 naive females, '/a of each group receptive and Vz nonreceptive, to odors from normal and castrated males were observed. Experienced and naive-receptive females preferred the normal male odor (p < .05), but the naive-nonreceptive females showed no preference.

Following a 50-day period of cohabitation with females, 36 male rats were tested in their home cages for sexual vigor and for preference for odors from normal receptive vs. nbiireceptive females. 2 mo. prior to odor preference testing, 13 sexually active and 6 inactive Ss were castrated; 12 active and 5 inactive Ss served as controls. Active normal Ss preferred receptive-female ; odor over nonreceptive-female odor (p < .01), but inactive normal Ss and castrates showed no preference for either feminine odor. Active normal Ss spent more time than did other Ss investigating nonreceptive-female odor as well as receptive-female odor (p < .05).

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