基于交叉抚育的雄性根田鼠对异性同胞尿气味的识别

通过交叉抚育建立室内繁殖种群,在断奶后（80日龄）分别取这些供体的新鲜尿气味作刺激物,在行为观察箱中观察和记录雄性根田鼠对雌鼠气味的行为反应,以研究根田鼠同胞识别的化学通讯机制。结果表明：①在不同的发育时期（2～70日龄）,雄性同巢同胞与异巢同胞的体重没有显著差异。②雄性根田鼠对雌性同巢非同胞气味的接近潜伏期显著长于对异巢非同胞的接近潜伏期（P〈0．05）,其对异巢非同胞气味的访问时间和嗅舔时间都显著高于同巢非同胞气味（P〈0．05）。③雄性根田鼠对雌性异巢同胞和异巢非同胞气味的不存在明显偏好。其对两者的接近潜伏期、访问频次、访问时间、嗅舔频次和嗅舔时间等行为响应均无显著差异（P〈0．05）。这些结果表明,80日龄时,雄性根田鼠能够识别熟悉和陌生的无亲属关系雌性尿气味,但不能区分陌生的亲属和非亲属,因此,其异性同胞识别的机制为共生熟悉模式。     

不同社会等级雄性根田鼠对自身和同性陌生气味的辨别

采用两两遭遇法确定雄性根田鼠的社会等级,然后以新鲜尿作气味源,在行为选择箱中观察不同社会等级雄性根田鼠对自身气味和非自身气味的行为响应模式,结果表明:种群中从属个体对自身尿液存在明显偏好,其对自身尿液的接近潜伏期显著短于非自身尿液,而访问时间、自我修饰频次都显著高于非自身尿液;种群中优势个体则优先访问非自身尿液,其对非自身尿液的访问时间、嗅舔时间、自我修饰及反标记均显著高于自身尿液;对非自身尿液,不同社会等级雄性个体之间存在明显不同的行为反应模式。这说明,不同社会等级雄性根田鼠具有自我识别的能力且模式不同,同时其对非自身尿气味响应模式的差异也与自身的社会等级有关。     

雌性根田鼠断奶后对亲本尿气味的记忆

为研究亲子分开后雌性根田鼠对亲本气味的记忆持续时间,分别在未分开(20日龄)、分开10d(30日龄)、20d(40日龄)、30d(50日龄)、40d(60日龄)时,以新鲜尿作气味源,在行为观察箱中记录雌性根田鼠对不同气味源的行为响应模式,结果表明(1)未分开时,雌鼠遭遇父本气味时自我修饰的频次极显著高于陌生雄鼠气味,在分开10d时,雌鼠接近父本气味的频次显著多于接近陌生雄鼠气味的频次,其对前者反标记显著少于后者;(2)分开20d后,雌鼠对父本和陌生雄鼠气味的行为响应无明显差异;(3)未分窝时,雌性根田鼠幼仔对母本和陌生雌鼠气味的行为响应无差异;(4)分开10—40d时,雌性根田鼠对母本和陌生雌鼠气味表现出不同的行为响应模式。以上结果表明,在亲子分开10d时,雌鼠仍能识别父本和陌生雄鼠的气味;分开20d后,雌鼠不再能够识别父本和陌生雄鼠的气味;在亲子分开40d时,雌鼠仍能识别母本和陌生雌鼠的气味。因此,雌鼠对父本气味的嗅觉记忆时间可以持续到亲子分开10—20d之间;而对母本气味的嗅觉记忆时间则可以持续到亲子分开40d以上。     

雌性根田鼠断奶后对亲本尿气味的记忆

为研究亲子分开后雌性根田鼠对亲本气味的记忆持续时间，分别在未分开（20日龄）、分开10 d（30日龄）、20 d（40日龄）、30 d（50日龄）、40 d（60日龄）时，以新鲜尿作气味源，在行为观察箱中记录雌性根田鼠对不同气味源的行为响应模式，结果表明：(1) 未分开时，雌鼠遭遇父本气味时自我修饰的频次极显著高于陌生雄鼠气味，在分开10 d时，雌鼠接近父本气味的频次显著多于接近陌生雄鼠气味的频次，其对前者反标记显著少于后者；(2)分开20 d后，雌鼠对父本和陌生雄鼠气味的行为响应无明显差异；(3) 未分窝时，雌性根田鼠幼仔对母本和陌生雌鼠气味的行为响应无差异；（4）分开10—40 d时，雌性根田鼠对母本和陌生雌鼠气味表现出不同的行为响应模式。以上结果表明，在亲子分开10 d时，雌鼠仍能识别父本和陌生雄鼠的气味；分开20 d后，雌鼠不再能够识别父本和陌生雄鼠的气味；在亲子分开40 d时，雌鼠仍能识别母本和陌生雌鼠的气味。因此，雌鼠对父本气味的嗅觉记忆时间可以持续到亲子分开10—20 d之间；而对母本气味的嗅觉记忆时间则可以持续到亲子分开40 d以上。     

根田鼠气味识别的性二型

以新鲜尿和粪作气味源,在行为选择箱中观察根田鼠的行为识别模式,结果表明：雌鼠对陌生同性尿、粪气味源行为识别的差异不显,雄鼠对陌生同性尿、粪气味源的行为识别在多个指标上存在显差异;根田鼠对陌生异性尿、粪的行为响应模式无明显差异;除嗅舔时间外,雌、雄鼠对粪气味的行为识别在其他指标上不存在明显差异;比较雌、雄鼠对尿刺激的行为识别发现,雄鼠对尿刺激的访问频次和反标记显大于雌鼠,雌性嗅舔时间显大于雄性,其他方面二之间并无显差异。因此,雌、雄性根田鼠对粪气味的行为识别模式不存在性别差异;对尿气味的行为识别模式存在性别差异。     

雌性根田鼠的亲属识别与配偶选择

在Y字型选择箱中进行3种不同熟悉处理的配偶选择实验以检验动情雌性根田鼠配偶选择时的亲属识别和近交回避。（1）动情雌鼠在熟悉雄性同胞和陌生非同胞之间嗅添频次和时间、及自我修饰时间的差异非常显著（P＜0.01),所作的脊柱前凸反应时间也有显著差异（P＜0.05),这些行为均多针对于陌生非同胞雄性。结果提示动情雌性根田鼠在熟知雄性同胞身份的条件下对陌生非亲属雄性的气味更感兴趣,在择偶中与非亲属雄性交配来实现近交回避。（2）动情雌鼠对陌生雄性非同胞的嗅添频次和时间及所作的脊柱前凸反应时间显著大于陌生同胞雄性（P＜0.05),而针对陌生雄性非同胞自我修饰时间非常显著地大于针对陌生雄性同胞（P＜0.01)。这说明动情雌性根田鼠在择偶时可以识别断奶后分离不熟悉的雄性亲属,而在交配行为上偏向于非亲属雄性。（3）动情雌鼠在熟悉雄性同胞和非同胞之间跃添时间差异明显（P＜0.05),嗅添频次的差异更甚（P＜0.01);所作的脊柱前凸反应时间和社交后自我修饰时间差异也非常显著（P＜0.01),这些行为也均都偏向于非同胞雄性;结果提示断奶后继续熟悉可维持动情雌鼠对雄性亲属的嗅觉识别记忆力,在交配行为上主动回避亲属雄性。故认为：断奶后嗅觉识别持久力是发情雌性根田鼠亲属识别的机制,亲属识别是最初发情的雌性根田鼠配偶选择中近交回避的首要途径和机制,熟悉性是维持雌性根田鼠配偶选择实现近交回避的机制和特征。     

基于交叉抚育的雌性根田鼠对雄鼠尿气味的识别

通过交叉抚育建立同巢同胞、同巢非同胞、异巢同胞和异巢非同胞个体组成的室内繁殖种群,在断奶后（80日龄）分别取这些供体的新鲜尿作刺激物,在吕字型观察箱中观察和记录雌性根田鼠对雄鼠气味的行为响应,以研究根田鼠同胞识别的化学通讯机制。结果表明：（1）成年雌性根田鼠对雄性同巢同胞气味的接近潜伏期极显著短于对同巢非同胞气味的接近潜伏期（P〈0.01）,而其对两者的访问时间和嗅舔时间之间的差异并不显著（P〉0.05）;（2）雌鼠对雄性异巢同胞和异巢非同胞气味无明显偏好。其对两者的接近潜伏期、访问时间和嗅舔时间等行为响应均无显著差异（P〉0.05）;（3）雌鼠对雄性同巢非同胞和异巢非同胞的接近潜伏期差异并不明显（P〉0.05）,对两者访问时间和嗅舔时间的差别不大（P〉0.05）;（4）比较雌鼠对异巢同胞和同巢同胞气味的行为响应发现,其对后者的接近潜伏期显著短于前者（P〈0.05）,其对两者访问时间、嗅舔时间之间的差异未达到显著水平（P〉0.05）。这些结果表明,80日龄时,雌性根田鼠具有亲属识别能力,其同胞识别的机制可能为共生熟悉和表型匹配两种模式协同作用。     

雄性柴达木根田鼠断奶后对亲本尿气味的记忆

为了研究亲子分开后雄性柴达木根田鼠(Microtus limnophylus)对亲本尿气味的记忆持续时间,分别在未分开(20日龄),以及分开10d(30日龄)、20d(40日龄)、30d(50日龄)、40d(60日龄)时,以新鲜尿作为气味源,在行为观察箱中记录雄性柴达木根田鼠对不同气味源的行为响应模式.结果表明:(1)未分开时,雄鼠对父本气味的接近频次显著高于陌生雄鼠气味;分开10d时,雄鼠对父本气味的访问时间显著多于对陌生雄鼠气味的访问时间;分开20d时,雄鼠对陌生雄鼠气味的接近潜伏期极显著短于父本,对陌生雄鼠气味的访问时间极显著长于父本,其遭遇父鼠气味时的自我修饰频次显著少于陌生雄鼠气味.(2)分开30d后,雄鼠对父本和陌生雄鼠气味的行为响应没有明显差异.以上结果表明,在亲子分开20d时,雄鼠仍能识别父本与陌生雄鼠的气味;在分开30d后,雄鼠不再能够识别父本与陌生雄鼠的气味.(3)在未分窝时,雄性柴达木根田鼠幼仔对母本和陌生雌鼠气味的行为响应没有任何差异.(4)在分开10d时,雄性柴达木根田鼠对母本和陌生雌鼠气味表现出不同的行为响应模式;分开20～40d时,雄鼠对母本与陌生雌鼠气味的行为响应没有任何差异.以上结果表明,在亲子分开10d时,雄鼠仍能识别母本与陌生雌鼠的气味;在分开20d后,雄鼠不再能够识别母本与陌生雌鼠的气味.因此,雄鼠对父本气味的嗅觉记忆时间可以持续到亲子分开20～30d之间;其对母本气味的嗅觉记忆时间可以持续到亲子分开10d时.     

熟悉性对棕色田鼠和根田鼠择偶行为的影响

以两性配对共居至交配或生仔作不同熟悉处理,在Y字型选择箱中分别观察棕色田鼠、根田鼠的择偶行为和配偶识别.结果如下:(1)棕色田鼠雌雄两性均表现出对熟悉异性或配偶的喜好倾向;(2)在根田鼠中,只有雌性表现出对熟悉雄鼠或配偶的选择倾向,雄鼠无明确的选择取向;(3)每种雌性田鼠对2种熟悉性不同的同种雄性的嗅舔时间均有显著差异性,而每种雄性田鼠对2种熟悉性不同的同种雌性的嗅舔时间均无显著差异性.这些结果表明:(1)熟悉性对棕色田鼠择偶行为的影响大于对根田鼠的影响;(2)嗅舔时间差异可反映不同田鼠的配偶识别能力,熟悉性对棕色田鼠配偶识别能力的影响大于对根田鼠的影响;(3)2种田鼠配偶识别的性别差异的一致性,提示这2种田鼠的雌性配偶识别能力均强于雄性田鼠,而雌鼠的配偶识别能力可能取决于雌鼠受交配或分娩刺激的生理状态; (4)棕色田鼠室内所表现的择偶行为的两性熟悉性特征与其单配制有关,根田鼠所表现的择偶行为的雌性熟悉性特征与其一雄多雌制有关.     

根田鼠对不同亲属关系异性尿气味的识别

根为检验根田鼠对不同亲属关系异性成体尿气味的识别能力,通过一雄两雌配对实验建立实验种群,从而产生同胞、父系半同胞和陌生个体。在行为选择箱中记录了雌、雄根田鼠对亲属系数分别为0、0.25 和0.5 异性尿气味的行为响应模式。结果如下:雌性根田鼠对3 种不同亲属关系雄鼠气味的接近潜伏期的差异达到极显著水平(P < 0.01),嗅闻时间的差异也达到显著水平(P <0.05),而嗅闻频次和反标记的差异均未达到显著水平(P >0.05)。雄性根田鼠对3 种不同亲属关系雌鼠气味的接近潜伏期和嗅闻时间的差异都未达到显著水平(P >0.05)。对不同亲属关系的气味嗅闻频次和反标记的比较分析表明,三者间的差异也未达到显著水平(P >0.05)。因此,雌性根田鼠能够识别不同亲属关系异性气味并对不同气味表现出不同的行为响应模式;而雄鼠不能识别3 种气味并对其表现出类似的行为模式。     

Olfactory communication among Costa Rican squirrel monkeys: a field study.

Behaviors with a possible role in olfactory communication among troop members were investigated as part of a field study on the reproductive and foraging ecology of squirrel monkeys (Saimiri oerstedi) in Costa Rica. All age classes engaged in the olfaction-related behaviors. Apart from olfactory investigation of female genitals by males during the mating season, no other potential olfaction-related behavior (urine wash, branch investigation, rump, chest, back rub and sneeze) exceeded 1% of mean behavioral samples. Assessment of reproduction condition appears to be the primary function of such olfactory investigation of the female genital region. The primary function of urine washing is suggested to be the general communication of reproductive status, possibly facilitating reproductive synchrony. Sneezing, rump, back and chest rubbing do not appear to deposit substances active in olfactory communication.     

Discrimination of conspecific sex and reproductive condition using chemical cues in axolotls (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ambystoma mexicanum</Emphasis>)

Chemosensory cues play an important role in the daily lives of salamanders, mediating foraging, conspecific recognition, and territorial advertising. We investigated the behavioral effects of conspecific whole-body odorants in axolotls, Ambystoma mexicanum, a salamander species that is fully aquatic. We found that males increased general activity when exposed to female odorants, but that activity levels in females were not affected by conspecific odorants. Although males showed no difference in courtship displays across testing conditions, females performed courtship displays only in response to male odorants. We also found that electro-olfactogram responses from the olfactory and vomeronasal epithelia were larger in response to whole-body odorants from the opposite sex than from the same sex. In males, odorants from gravid and recently spawned females evoked different electro-olfactogram responses at some locations in the olfactory and vomeronasal epithelia; in general, however, few consistent differences between the olfactory and vomeronasal epithelia were observed. Finally, post hoc analyses indicate that experience with opposite-sex conspecifics affects some behavioral and electrophysiological responses. Overall, our data indicate that chemical cues from conspecifics affect general activity and courtship behavior in axolotls, and that both the olfactory and vomeronasal systems may be involved in discriminating the sex and reproductive condition of conspecifics.Abbreviations EOG electro-olfactogram - VNO vomeronasal organ     

Whole-cell response characteristics of ciliated and microvillous olfactory receptor neurons to amino acids, pheromone candidates and urine in rainbow trout.

Olfactory lamellae of teleosts contain two morphologically different types of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs): ciliated ORNs (cORNs) and microvillous ORNs (mORNs). However, little is known about the functional difference between these two types of ORNs in fish olfaction. We isolated cORNs and mORNs using a Ca(2+)-free solution method from olfactory organs of the rainbow trout and examined their response characteristics to various odorants including fish pheromone candidates by whole-cell voltage-clamp techniques. Quadruple mixture of amino acids, single amino acids, steroids (analogues of DHP; 17 alpha, 20 beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one and ECG; etiocholan-3 alpha-ol-17-one glucuronide), prostaglandins (PGFs) and urine samples collected from immature and mature female fish were applied focally to olfactory cilia or microvilli using a multi-barreled stimulation pipette with a pressure ejection system. Inward current responses to odorants were recorded from both cORNs and mORNs at a holding potential of -60 mV. cORNs responded to the amino acid mixture, single amino acids, urine samples and ECG, whereas mORNs responded specifically either to the amino acid mixture or single amino acids. The response profiles of both cORNs and mORNs to various odorants varied widely. None of cORNs and mORNs responded to fish pheromone candidates, PGFs and DHPs. Androgen treatment of immature fish did not influence olfactory sensitivity of both cORNs and mORNs to the amino acid mixture and both urine samples. Amino acid and bile acid analyses by HPLC showed that both urine samples contained 35 amino acids (1-40 mM) and trace amounts of taurocholic acid and glycoursodeoxycholic acid. Our results suggest that cORNs are 'generalists' that respond to a wide variety of odorants, including pheromones, whereas mORNs are 'specialists', specific to amino acids, and also suggest that PGFs and DHPs are not pheromones for the rainbow trout.     

An electrophysiological study on the effects of pH on olfaction in mature male Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr

The olfactory responses of mature male Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar L.) parr to known odorants were studied after exposure of the olfactory epithelia to water of varying pH. Electrophysiological recordings from the olfactory epithelia indicated that the responses of fish to both testosterone and urine from ovulated female Atlantic salmon were significantly reduced at pH 5·5 and 4·5 and abolished at pH 3·5. Concentration response studies indicated that at pH 5·5 and 6·5 significantly higher concentrations of testosterone and urine were required to produce the same amplitude responses as controls. Both testosterone and urine have previously been shown to be important chemical cues eliciting behavioural and physiological responses in Atlantic salmon. The results are therefore discussed in relation to the possible sublethal effects of acidification on reproduction and behaviour of Atlantic salmon and the effects on salmonid stocks.     

Odor-guided behavior in Drosophila requires calreticulin

The efficient processing of olfactory information is crucial for many aspects of life in animals, including behavior in insects. While much is known about the organization of the insect olfactory system, comparatively little is understood about the molecules that support its function. To further elucidate the molecular basis of olfaction, we explored the role of the calcium-binding chaperone calreticulin in the behavioral response of Drosophila to aversive odorants. We show that avoidance of naturally aversive odorants is impaired in flies harboring mutations in Calreticulin. Calreticulin mutants have broad defects in odor avoidance without abnormalities in antennal responses to odorants, alterations in central nervous system structure, or deficits in overall locomotor abilities. Interestingly, Calreticulin mutants exhibit defects in behavioral responses to odorants at low strength, whereas responses to higher odorant concentrations are preserved in these animals. Our studies indicate that calreticulin plays a key role in olfactory system function, possibly by establishing its overall sensitivity to odorants.     

啮齿动物的嗅觉通讯研究进展

通过对近40 年来啮齿动物嗅觉通讯的研究综述, 主要介绍嗅觉信号的来源、组成及其对啮齿动物行为生理所产生的作用。啮齿动物嗅觉通讯的信号来源主要是粪便、尿液和特化皮肤腺等, 对这些化学信号的成分分析主要集中在各种信息素(Pheromone) 的结构、来源及其引起的行为反应。目前, 在对啮齿动物嗅觉通讯神经通路的研究中, 对主嗅觉系统和犁鼻器系统在动物嗅觉通讯中的作用仍将是人们研究的重点; 而通过信息素作用所产生的各种行为反应的神经内分泌机制也是动物嗅觉通讯领域研究的热点之一。研究气味信号对动物行为和生理等方面所产生的作用, 将有助于揭示啮齿动物嗅觉通讯在其社会行为中的重要作用。     

Effects of vomeronasal organ removal on olfactory sex discrimination and odor preferences of female ferrets

Previous research suggests that body odorants, including anal scents and urinary odors, contribute to sex discrimination and mate identification in European ferrets of both sexes. We assessed the possible role of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) in these functions by surgically removing the organ bilaterally in sexually experienced female ferrets. Lesioned (VNOx) and sham-operated control (VNOi) females reliably discriminated between male- and female-derived anal scent gland as well as fresh urinary odors in habituation/dishabituation tests. However, VNOi females spent significantly more time than VNOx subjects investigating male urinary odors in these tests. Also, VNOi females, but not VNOx subjects, preferred to investigate day-old male versus female urine spots as well as wooden blocks that had previously been soiled by male versus female ferrets. Both groups of female ferrets preferred to approach volatile odors from a breeding male instead of an estrous female in Y-maze tests and both groups showed similar levels of receptive sexual behavior in response to a male's neck grip. The VNO is apparently not required for olfactory sex discrimination or mate recognition in this carnivore, but instead may play a role in promoting continued contact with nonvolatile body odors previously deposited by opposite-sex conspecifics during territorial scent marking.     

Similar Odor Discrimination Behavior in Head-Restrained and Freely Moving Mice

A major challenge in neuroscience is relating neuronal activity to animal behavior. In olfaction limited techniques are available for these correlation studies in freely moving animals. To solve this problem, we developed an olfactory behavioral assay in head-restrained mice where we can monitor behavioral responses with high temporal precision. Mice were trained on a go/no-go operant conditioning paradigm to discriminate simple monomolecular odorants, as well as complex odorants such as binary mixtures of monomolecular odorants or natural odorants. Mice learned to discriminate both simple and complex odors in a few hundred trials with high accuracy. We then compared the discrimination performance of head-restrained mice to the performance observed in freely moving mice. Discrimination accuracies were comparable in both behavioral paradigms. In addition, discrimination times were measured while the animals performed well. In both tasks, mice discriminated simple odors in a few hundred milliseconds and took additional time to discriminate the complex mixtures. In conclusion, mice showed similar and efficient discrimination behavior while head-restrained compared with freely moving mice. Therefore, the head-restrained paradigm offers a relevant approach to monitor neuronal activity while animals are actively engaged in olfactory discrimination behaviors.