Hormonal Influences on Territorial Marking Behavior

Yahr, Pauline

doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-3521-4_7

Cited by 24 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 137 publications

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“…It appears that scent marking by female meadow voles, but not by female prairie voles (Wolff et al 2002), follows a pattern of marking similar to that displayed by other female rodents. That is, high levels of scent marking are positively associated with high titers of circulating estradiol (Yahr 1983). Among female mammals, generally high titers of estradiol titers are concomitant with heightened sexual receptivity (Takahashi 1990).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Reproductive State of Female Voles Affects their Scent Marking Behavior and the Responses of Male Conspecifics to Such Marks

2004

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During the breeding season, the reproductive condition of female mammals changes. Females may or may not be sexually receptive. We conducted a series of experiments to determine whether reproductive condition of female meadow voles affects their scent marking behavior as well as the scent marking behavior of male conspecifics. In expt 1, females in postpartum estrus (PPE females) deposited more scent marks than females that were neither pregnant nor lactating (REF females) or ovariectomized females (OVX females). In expt 2, male voles scent marked more and deposited more over-marks in areas marked by PPE females than by REF and OVX females. In expt 3, PPE females deposited more scent marks and over-marks in areas marked by males than did females in the other reproductive states. The results of these experiments showed that male and female voles may vary in the number, type and location of scent marks they deposit in areas scented by particular conspecifics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Reproductive State of Female Voles Affects their Scent Marking Behavior and the Responses of Male Conspecifics to Such Marks

2004

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“…are critical for the expression of scent marking behavior. Lesions that destroy the MPOA-AH severely reduce scent-marking behavior in several mammalian species (Hart, 1974;Hart and Voith, 1978;Yahr, 1984). Implants of testosterone into the MPOA-AH can override deficits in scent marking produced by castration (Thiessen and Yahr, 1970;Thiessen et al, 1973).…”

Section: Scent Marking Is a Major Form Of Communication In Mammalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Odors deposited in the environment can serve a variety of social functions from attracting mates to repelling competitors (Yahr, 1984). In the Golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), one form of scent marking, termed flank gland marking, is accomplished by rubbing a dorsal flank gland against vertical objects in the environment.…”

Section: Scent Marking Is a Major Form Of Communication In Mammalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A V1-like receptor mediates vasopressin-induced flank marking behavior in hamster hypothalamus

Albers¹,

Pollock²,

Simmons³

et al. 1986

J. Neurosci.

110

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A vasopressin-sensitive mechanism within the medial preoptic area-anterior hypothalamus (MPOA-AH) appears to be essential for expression of a complex behavior involved in olfactory communication in Golden hamsters called flank marking. The present study investigated whether the induction of flank marking by arginine-vasopressin (AVP) within the MPOA-AH is mediated by a receptor that is more similar to the vasopressor (Vl) or the antidiurectic (V2) AVP receptor. Adult male hamsters were anesthetized and implanted with a 26 gauge guide cannula stereotaxically aimed at the MPOA-AH and then microinjected with analogs of vasopressin, oxytocin, and selective Vl and V2 antagonists. Hamsters were tested for flank-marking behavior during a 5 or 10 min observation period following the injection of peptlde in a vehicle of 100 nl of saline. None of the 15 analogs of AVP and oxytocin produced more flank marking than the 50.8 + 16.2 and 76.8 f 4.4 (mean f SEW, II = 4) flank marks observed following injection of AVP at the 1 or 10 ng dose, respectively. The number of flank marks produced by each analog was found to be highly related to the pressor activity of that analog at both the 1 ng (p = +0.74, p < 0.01) and 10 ng (p = +0.82, p < 0.01) doses. In contrast, no statistically reliable relationship between flank marking and the antidiuretic activity of these analogs was found at either dose (1 ng: p = +O.O7,p > 0.05; 10 ng: p = +O.lO,p > 0.05). In a second series of studies, microinjection of 2 different Vl antagonists into the MPOA-AH significantly (p < 0.005) inhibited flank marking in response to AVP. However, microinjection of a V2 antagonist or saline did not inhibit flank marking. These data indicate that the receptors mediating the induction of 'flank marking within the MPOA-AH are more similiar to Vl (pressor) receptors than to V2 (antidiuretic) receptors. Scent marking is a major form of communication in mammals.Odors deposited in the environment can serve a variety of social functions from attracting mates to repelling competitors (Yahr, 1984). In the Golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), one form of scent marking, termed flank gland marking, is accomplished by rubbing a dorsal flank gland against vertical objects in the environment. Flank gland marking is commonly observed in both male and female hamsters and can be elicited by the odors of other hamsters and aggression during social encounters (Johnston, 1975).Several lines of evidence now indicate that neurons within the medial preoptic area-anterior hypothalamus (MPOA-AH) Received Dec. 2, 1985; revised Jan. 20, 1986; accepted Jan. 22, 1986. We wish to thank Professor Maurice Manning for providing several vasopressin analogs and for his comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by NIH Grants (to H.E.A.) and HD-18022 (to C.F.F. are critical for the expression of scent marking behavior. Lesions that destroy the MPOA-AH severely reduce scent-marking behavior in several mammalian species (Hart, 1974;Hart and Voith, 1978;Yahr, 1984). Implants of testoster...

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“…Similarly, only sexually mature male bank voles deposit their urine marks in trails (Christiansen 1980). Scent‐marking behavior also increases with the onset of puberty in other rodents (Daly 1976; Yahr 1983; Powers et al 1985). Our data show that over‐marking and adjacent marking behaviors increase at sexual maturity, which supports the notion that these scent‐marking behaviors serve a role in sexual selection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Over‐marking and Adjacent Marking are Influenced by Sibship in Male Prairie Voles, Microtus ochrogaster

Kohli

Ferkin

1999

Ethology

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Ferkin. M. H 1999 Over-marking and adjacent marking are influenced by sibship in male prairie voles, Microfus ochrogusfer. Ethology 105, 1-1 1. AbstractScent over-marking occurs when an animal deposits its scent mark on top of the scent mark of a conspecific. Over-marking may provide advantages in the transfer of information to the individual whose scent is on top but not to the individual whose scent is on the bottom. We tested the hypothesis that over-marking is a competitive form of olfactory communication and that male prairie voles would over-mark the scent marks of same-sex conspecifics more than those of same-sex siblings. Two agematched male voles (first male and second male) were placed successively into an arena in which they were allowed to explore freely and scent mark for 15 min at age 12.20, 28, 36,44, and 52 d. The first male was placed into a clean arena, whereas the second male was placed into an arena containing either the scent marks of an age-matched male sibling or nonsibling. Age affected the total number of scent marks deposited by the voles; 12-20-d-old voles deposited fewer scent marks, over-marks and adjacent marks than did 28-52-d-old voles. Sibship did not affect the total number of scent marks deposited by the first and second voles but did affect the number of over-marks and adjacent marks deposited by the second vole. Siblings received significantly fewer over-marks and adjacent marks than did nonsiblings; this effect was most dramatic after the voles reached 28d of age, a time coincident with the onset of puberty. Males separated from siblings and housed singly at 44-d-old and tested at 52-d-old, deposited significantly more over-marks and adjacent marks in arenas if the first vole was a nonsibling than if it was a sibling. This differential scent-marking supports the hypothesis that over-marking and adjacent marking are used as competitive forms of olfactory communication by male prairie voles.

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Hormonal Influences on Territorial Marking Behavior

Cited by 24 publications

References 137 publications

The Reproductive State of Female Voles Affects their Scent Marking Behavior and the Responses of Male Conspecifics to Such Marks

The Reproductive State of Female Voles Affects their Scent Marking Behavior and the Responses of Male Conspecifics to Such Marks

A V1-like receptor mediates vasopressin-induced flank marking behavior in hamster hypothalamus

Over‐marking and Adjacent Marking are Influenced by Sibship in Male Prairie Voles, Microtus ochrogaster

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