Absence of sexual imprinting in house mice cross-fostered to deermice

Abstract

Female albino house mice ( Mus musculus, SJL/J strain) were cross-fostered within 0 to 12 hours of birth to lactating female prairie deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) and their mates. After weaning at 18 days, the cross-fostered females were subjected to a series of physiological and behavioral tests designed to examine the species specificity of response. The physiological tests employed were: (1) male-induced puberty (the Vandenbergh effect), (2) mating synchrony (the Whitten effect), and (3) pregnancy block (the Bruce effect). Behavioral responses were tested in a T maze by measuring the amount of time spent investigating soiled bedding or confined males of each of the two species during a 30 min period. Both physiological and behavioral tests indicate that raising female house mice with deermice: (1) does not cause them to imprint on deermice and (2) does not prevent their responding to house mouse males. Therefore, species specificity of pheromonal responses and preference behavior in female house mice appears to be genetically programmed instead of imprinted.