The repeated DNA sequences of Microtinae : I. Microtus agrestis, Microtus pennsylvanicus and Ellobius lutescens

A comparison has been made of the repeated nucleotide sequences from 3 Microtinae which possess varying amounts of constitutive heterochromatin per cell nucleus. Eight repetitive fractions of DNA, ranging in C_ot values from 10⁻³ to 10⁻³, were obtained by reassociation of sheared, denatured DNA and fractionation on hydroxyapatite. At C_ot values of less than 1, 3 fractions were isolated that amounted to 18.7, 10.0 and 7.4 % of the total DNA of Microtus agrestis, Microtus pennsylvanicus and Ellobius lutescens, respectively, in agreement with the amounts of heterochromatin in these species. At C_ot values higher than 1, the amounts of repeated sequences were more comparable and constituted about 12 to 14 % of the DNA. Thermal denaturation profiles of all the repetitive fractions showed a good deal of order in the reassociated duplexes, with an average hyperchromicity of 20 %. Upon density gradient centrifugation in neutral CsCl, the fractions from M. pennsylvanicus and E. lutescens yielded almost identical patterns and differed significantly from those of M. agrestis. In M. agrestis a fraction of fast-intermediate repetitiveness (reassociating at C_ot values between 10⁻² and 1) was isolated, amounting to about 12 % of the total DNA. This fraction has a base composition comparable to that of total DNA and represents the major component of the constitutive heterochromatin of giant sex chromosomes that have been isolated by the disruption of brain and liver nuclei and differential centrifugation.     

Effect of 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone on sex ratio and breeding performance in Microtus montanus

The plant derivative, 6-mathoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA), which has been demonstrated to initiate reproduction in field populations of the montane meadow vole (Microtus montanus), was administered via feeding or Silastic capsule implants to mated pairs of laboratory bred M. montanus. The animals remained paired for 120 days, and the number, size, and sex ratios of the resulting litters were recorded. Both the size and frequency of litters were significantly greater in 6-MBOA-treated pairs than in controls. By using implants, it was possible to treat one or both sexes in a mated pair. The positive effects of this compound on litter size and number of litters occurred when the females received implants, which indicates that the male has no influence on these parameters. The most unusual result of these experiments was that 6-MBOA has a significant effect on the sex ratio of the litters. Animals receiving 6-MBOA produced significantly more females than did control pairs. This result occurred regardless of the method of administration, and in the case of the implant studies, regardless of which sex received the active implants. These findings are discussed in relation to the ecology and life history strategy of Microtus montanus.     

Dynamics of intestinal coccidia in peak density Microtus agrestis, Microtus oeconomus and Clethrionomus glareolus populations in Finland

Study of seasonal changes in the occurrence of Eimeria spp. in Microtus agrestis, Clethrionomys glareolus and Microtus oeconomus populations in Finland showed distinct seasonal variation in all three host species: the peaks occurred in both prevalence and density of infection in early autumn. The low prevalence and density of eimerian infections before and during the main crash of vole populations in late winter indicate that these organisms, although potentially pathogenic, do not significantly contribute to the drastic decline in cyclic vole populations.     

Self-Discrimination in Meadow Voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus

Particular features of the signaling characteristics of the scent marks of temperate zone, seasonally breeding mammals may reflect differences in their reproductive state and, hence, be variable. Consequently, an individual's perception of self may depend more on the condition independent than on the condition-dependent signaling characteristics of the scent marks. Yet, we do not know whether an individual responds to changes in the signaling characteristics of its own scent marks, such as those associated with changes in an individual's reproductive state. Such changes may affect how and where an animal scent marks. Here we report on a series of experiments designed to test the hypothesis that individual meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus , distinguish between scent marks they deposited when they were in different reproductive states. Results showed that voles discriminated their own scent marks from those of unfamiliar, same-sex conspecifics, and the scent marks of siblings. Voles did not behave as if they could distinguish between their own scent marks if the marks were deposited when the voles were in the same reproductive state, although the two scent marks used as stimuli differed in age by 30 d. However, they did so distinguish if they were exposed to scent marks taken when they were in different reproductive states. Overall, these findings suggest that voles behave as if their novel and familiar scent marks shared the similar signaling features. If, however, the reproductive condition of the voles differed when it provided the two scent marks, they behaved as if their own scent marks had different signal characteristics, which may have induced voles to treat the two scent marks as not being the same or having been deposited by two different donors. We speculate that the scent marks of individuals may have unique signaling characteristics that may be associated with that individual's 'current template for self'.     

Pattern of X-Y chromosome pairing in the Taiwan vole, Microtus kikuchii.

Pairing of X and Y chromosomes at meiotic prophase and the G- and C-banding patterns and nucleolar organizer region (NOR) distribution were analyzed in Microtus kikuchii. M. kikuchii is closely related to M. oeconomus and M. montebelli, karyologically and systematically. The formation of a synaptonemal complex between the X and Y chromosomes at pachytene and end-to-end association at diakinesis--metaphase I are only observed in three species in the genus Microtus; M. kikuchii, M. oeconomus, and M. montebelli. All the other species that have been studied so far have had asynaptic X-Y chromosomes. These data confirm that M. kikuchii, M. oeconomus, and M. montebelli are very closely related, and support the separation of asynaptic and synaptic groups on the phylogenetic tree.     

The plant metabolite, 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone, stimulates an increase in secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone and size of reproductive organs in Microtus pinetorum

The plant metabolite, 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA), occurring in leaf tissue of rapidly growing monocots, cues reproduction in some mammals. In the pine vole, Microtus pinetorum, peripubertal females respond to this nonestrogenic compound with a 40% increase in serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). In addition, 6-MBOA significantly increases the weight of the ovary and uterus in both peripubertal and mature voles. This study is the first to offer evidence that 6-MBOA interacts with the pituitary to stimulate reproduction in voles.