Reproduction In Female Mice Research Articles

Effects of central and peripheral anosmia on reproduction of female mice

Anosmia, induced either by removal of the olfactory bulbs or by a ZnSO 4 flush of the nasal epithelium, resulted in lengthened and irregular estrous cycles in mice as determined by vaginal lavage. When mated with males, anosmic females conceived but at a rate lower than sham controls. Both central and peripheral anosmia disrupted nest building and maternal care but the severity of the effect was greater among centrally anosmic females. These results indicate that the sense of smell is essential for normal ovarian rhythmicity in the mouse and that bulbectomy produced more severe disruption of nest building and maternal care than anosmia alone.

Effects of male odor during infancy on the maturation, behavior, and reproduction of female mice.

AbstractInfant female mice who were exposed to the odor of adult male mice of the same strain in the presence or absence of the mother were compared with mice who were not exposed with respect to maturation, open‐field behavior, and reproductive success. Exposure lasted 4 hr daily during days 4–18 post‐partum. No significant differences were found between the groups in their rates of growth or the age of ear, eye, and vaginal opening. However, the exposed groups displayed first estrus significantly earlier than non‐exposed groups: the group exposed in the presence of the mothers showing the earliest first estrus of all 4 groups.