Why are male mice afraid of bananas?

Why are male mice afraid of bananas?


Olfactory publicity to late-pregnant and lactating mice produces analgesia in male however not feminine mice within the radiant warmth paw-withdrawal take a look at. (A and B) Latency to hind paw-withdrawal (s) from radiant warmth of male (A) and feminine (B) mice earlier than (Pre) and through (Post) publicity to stimulus mice of varied reproductive situations: naïve male, naïve feminine (NF), early pregnant (EP), late pregnant (LP), lactating (Lact.) [with pups present (+ pups), without pups present (− pups), and with pups removed 24 hours before (− pups 24 hours)], and after weaning. (C and D) Change (Δ) in hind paw-withdrawal latency (Post-Pre) in all stimulus situations proven in graphs (A) and (B) in male (C) and feminine (D) mice. Positive values (inexperienced) characterize analgesia; damaging values (pink) characterize hyperalgesia. In all graphs, particular person knowledge are proven (n = 10 to 12 mice per intercourse per situation); black bars characterize means ± SEM. *P Science Advances (2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abi9366

Researchers from McGill University have recognized a type of chemical signaling in mice to defend their offspring. The researchers discovered that proximity to pregnant and lactating feminine mice elevated stress hormones in males and even decreased their sensitivity to ache.

“The findings have vital implications for enhancing the reliability and reproducibility of experiments involving mice. This is yet one more instance of a beforehand unknown issue within the lab surroundings that may have an effect on the outcomes of scientific research,” says Jeffrey Mogil, a Professor within the Department of Psychology at McGill University and E. P. Taylor Chair in Pain Studies.
According to co-author Sarah Rosen, “what is probably going taking place is that feminine mice are signaling to males who may be contemplating attacking their infants that they are going to defend them vigorously. It’s the specter of the doable upcoming combat that causes the stress.”
“Mice have richer communication with each other than we expect; it is simply that a variety of it is by scent,” says Mogil. The researchers began searching for the olfactory chemical accountable. Several odorants have been recognized, however one, n-pentyl acetate, which is launched within the urine of pregnant and lactating feminine mice, was particularly efficient at producing stress in male mice.
“Curiously, n-pentyl acetate can also be accountable for the distinctive scent of bananas. After a fast journey to the grocery store for some banana oil, we have been capable of verify that the scent of banana extract confused the male mice simply as a lot because the pregnant females,” says co-author Lucas Lima.
The discovering represents a breakthrough within the science of mammalian social signaling. “There are numerous examples of male-to-female olfactory signaling in rodents, however far fewer examples of female-to-male signaling, particularly outdoors of the realm of sexual conduct,” says Mogil.
“Olfactory publicity to late-pregnant and lactating mice causes stress-induced analgesia in male mice” by Sarah Rosen et al. was printed in Science Advances.

Neuroscientists says it’s time to begin utilizing extra feminine mice for testing

More data:
Sarah F. Rosen et al, Olfactory publicity to late-pregnant and lactating mice causes stress-induced analgesia in male mice, Science Advances (2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abi9366

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Why are male mice afraid of bananas? (2022, May 24)
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