Steroidal modulation of scent investigation and marking behaviors in male and female ferrets (Mustela putorius furo).

2007

Hormones and Behavior

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Previous research showed that ferrets of both sexes rely on the perception of conspecifics' body odors to identify and motivate approach towards opposite-sex mating partners, and exposure to male body odors stimulated Fos expression in an olfactory projection circuit of female, but not male, ferrets that terminates in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH). We asked whether the female-typical preference of ferrets to approach male as opposed to female body odors in Y-maze tests would be disrupted by VMH lesions. Sexually experienced female ferrets were ovo-hysterectomized prior to receiving bilateral electrolytic lesions of the VMH, the preoptic area/anterior hypothalamus (POA/ AH) or a sham operation. Subsequently, while receiving estradiol benzoate, females that received either complete or partial bilateral lesions of the VMH approached volatile odors from an anesthetized male on significantly fewer trials than females given POA/AH lesions or a sham operation. Both groups of ferrets with VMH lesion damage reliably discriminated between volatile anal scents as well as urinary odors from the 2 sexes in home cage habituation/dishabituation tests, suggesting that their odor-based sex discrimination remained intact. Females with complete bilateral VMH lesions showed significantly lower acceptance of neck gripping from a stimulus male (receptivity) and more aggression towards the male than all other groups of female subjects. Estrogen-sensitive neurons in the VMH appear to play a central role in female-typical neural processing of odor inputs leading to a preference to seek out a male sex partner, in addition to facilitating females' sexual receptivity.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus lesions disrupt olfactory mate recognition and receptivity in female ferrets

Robarts

2007

Hormones and Behavior

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“…In ferrets, as in several of the above-mentioned species, a reliable sex difference was observed in the preference to investigate pheromonal cues from conspecifics, and these sexually dimorphic preferences were only expressed when gonadal steroids were circulating at the time that odor preferences were assessed. In one study (Chang et al, 2000) sexually experienced adult male and female ferrets were gonadectomized and tested for their preference to investigate (sniff) blocks of wood previously soiled with anal scent gland secretions/urine from breeding male vs. female ferrets.…”

Section: Sex Differences In Sexual Partner Preference: Contribution Omentioning

confidence: 99%

Roles of sex and gonadal steroids in mammalian pheromonal communication

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology

Bakker

2013

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a b s t r a c t A brain circuit (the accessory olfactory system) that originates in the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and includes the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) plus additional forebrain regions mediates many of the effects of pheromones, typically comprised of a variety of non-volatile and volatile compounds, on aspects of social behavior. A second, parallel circuit (the main olfactory system) that originates in the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) and includes the main olfactory bulb (MOB) has also been shown to detect volatile pheromones from conspecifics. Studies are reviewed that point to specific roles of several different steroids and their water-soluble metabolites as putative pheromones. Other studies are reviewed that establish an adult, 'activational' role of circulating sex hormones along with sex differences in the detection and/or processing of non-steroidal pheromones by these two olfactory circuits. Persisting questions about the role of sex steroids in pheromonal processing are posed for future investigation.

“…When in breeding condition, both males and females approach and investigate scent deposits from the opposite sex (Chang et al, 2000), suggesting that odors may contribute to heterosexual attraction. The ferret possesses a vomeronasal organ (Weiler et al, 1999) and an associated accessory olfactory bulb .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Nares Occlusion Eliminates Heterosexual Partner Selection without Disrupting Coitus in Ferrets of Both Sexes

Kelliher

2001

J. Neurosci.

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Using an airtight Y maze and a new method to induce peripheral anosmia in ferrets, we assessed the contribution of conspecific odors, either alone or in combination with visual and auditory signals, to heterosexual partner preference. Sexually naive ferrets were gonadectomized and treated with sex steroids, after which their nares were either bilaterally occluded using dental impression material or were sham-occluded. Behavioral and histological evidence suggested that nares occlusion blocked access of odors to the main olfactory epithelium for the duration of the study. Sham-occluded females and males preferred to approach odor only or odor plus visual plus auditory cues from opposite-sex conspecifics, whereas naresoccluded ferrets approached opposite-and same-sex cues equally. All ferrets subsequently mated successfully in tests conducted in a small chamber. When retested in the Y maze, sham-occluded females and males again preferred to approach odor-only or odor plus visual plus auditory cues from oppositesex ferrets, whereas nares-occluded subjects showed no such preference even in tests when a brief physical interaction with tethered stimulus ferrets was allowed after each trial. Our results show that in the ferret, a carnivore, the detection and processing of volatile odors from conspecifics by the main olfactory system is required for heterosexual mate choice.