Inhibition of Reproductive Maturation and Function in Laboratory Populations of Prairie Deermice: A Test of Pheromone Influence

Abstract

Ninety percent of the females born into and retained in freely growing laboratory populations of prairie deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) fail to produce young. Further, the reproductive organs of males and females from these asymptotic populations are significantly lighter in weight than controls. As a means of testing the influence on reproductive maturation of possible pheromones produced in the populations, 20 bisexual pairs of mice were raised from weaning until 100 days of age on bedding (a) soiled by asymptotic populations, (b) soiled by bisexual pairs from a breeding colony, and (c) unsoiled by mice. Analysis of the reproductive performances of the mice and the weights of their ovaries, uteri, and testes gave no indication of inhibition of reproductive development or function of animals maintained on bedding soiled by asymptotic populations. Rather, the data indicated that both reproductive function and maturation were stimulated in these animals compared to the other two treatments.