Social Odors Research Articles

Neurobehavioral and immunological effects of prenatal cocaine exposure in rat

Time-pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously with 20 mg/kg of cocaine HCl or 0.9% saline daily from gestation days 15 through 21. Maternal plasma levels of approximately 720 ng/ml of cocaine did not alter maternal weight gain during treatment, duration of pregnancy, any of the litter variables or several indices of maternal behavior. Offsprings' body weight from birth to 30 days of age and physical maturation were not generally affected by prenatal cocaine exposure. While the development of surface righting, cliff avoidance, and the startle response was accelerated in cocaine-exposed offspring, acquisition of a preference for a social odor was unaltered. Prenatal cocaine also attenuated the locomotor response of the offspring to d-amphetamine and cocaine at PND 15; at PND 30 both of these catecholaminergic agonists increased activity in prenatal saline and prenatal cocaine offspring. However, the difference in plasma levels of cocaine at PND 30 suggests a possible down-regulation of adrenergic receptors following prenatal cocaine exposure. Decreased thymus/body weight ratios and splenomegaly were observed in prenatal cocaine animals at 55 days of age. Although complete neutralization of herpes simplex virus-type 1 was not observed, sera from prenatal cocaine offspring showed an increased rate of appearance of cytopathic effect, while sera from animals given cocaine postnatally showed a reduction in the rate at which viral infectivity was expressed in culture. These results indicate that prenatal cocaine exposure can alter neurobehavioral ontogeny and humoral immune responsitivity in the offspring.

Catnip and the catnip response

Fourteen chemical compounds from diverse biological sources elicit a unique pattern of behavior in most species of the family Felidae. These chemicals may be grouped into 7-methylcyclopentapyranones, 7-methyl-2-pyrindines, and 4-methylbenzofuranones. They may function as either hallucinogens or cross-react with naturally occurring social odors.

Review of Social Odours in Mammals, Vol. 1.

Review of Social Odours in Mammals, Vol. 1.

Demonstration of an odorous intramale primer effect in short-tailed vole,Microtus agrestis L.

Anal (proctodeal) glands of maleMicrotus agrestis housed in social isolation undergo severe atrophy. Their weight and volume is significantly lower than those of the stock control males. The atrophied glands can be revived by subjecting deprived voles to various social odors. Atrophied glands of isolated males do not respond to the odors of male and female urine, voided feces of females, and unvoided feces of males. Atrophied anal glands of males exposed to voided male feces (which have passed the orifice of the anal gland) and soiled bedding from adult males show strong recrudescence. The mean weight and volume of the glands and plasma testosterone level are significantly higher than of males maintained in complete social isolation, although they are significantly less than those of stock control males. Atrophied glands of socially deprived males strongly respond to the odor of ethereal extract of gland secretion. In males exposed daily to anal gland secretion extract, the weight and volume of the gland and plasma testosterone level increase and are not significantly different from those of stock controls. They enjoy higher plasma testosterone levels and consequently larger and more active anal glands than complete isolates.

Early Olfactory Determinants of Adult Responsiveness to Social Status Odors in Mus musculus

Male weanling mice ( Mus musculus ) were exposed from 25 to 34 days of age to pooled urine collected from either dominant or subordinate adults. When sexually mature, the 67-day-old adults underwent training designed to give the subject either a domininant or subordinate social status. Each adult was then tested for response to the odor of freshly collected urine of dominant and subordinate donors. Responsiveness of adult males to social status odors depended upon the status of the adult male urine he smelled during his early post-weaning development. This long term influence interacted with adult social status effects and the quality of the odor source.

Selective olfactory exposure alters social and plant odor preferences of immature hamsters

Hamsters 6–42 days old learn to prefer or tolerate certain odors to which they are exposed. The particular preferences affected change with age. During the first postnatal week, a 1-hr exposure to a plant odor transiently eliminates its aversiveness. In contrast, plant odor preferences of hamsters 11–42 days old are minimally affected by olfactory exposure. However, some combinations of plant and hamster odors are significantly more attractive when familiar than when unfamiliar to hamsters 11 days and older. The observed preference differences suggest that some botanical odors, when unfamiliar, prevent concurrent social odors from influencing behavior.

Subspecies specificity of response to a mammalian social odor

Two subspecies of deer, black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) and Rocky Mountain mule deer (O. h. hemionus) were exposed to the tarsal scents of both subspecies in a social setting. The scent was sprayed on one individual in a group. The responses, consisting of sniffing, licking, and following, were stronger to each subspecies' own tarsal scent. This discrimination may be important for sexual isolation in areas where the ranges of the two species overlap.

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRITERIA FOR ODOR CONTROL EFFECTIVENESS*

Annals of the New York Academy of SciencesVolume 237, Issue 1 p. 320-327 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRITERIA FOR ODOR CONTROL EFFECTIVENESS* R. David Flesh, R. David Flesh Copley International Corporation La Jolla, California 92037Search for more papers by this author R. David Flesh, R. David Flesh Copley International Corporation La Jolla, California 92037Search for more papers by this author First published: September 1974 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1974.tb49867.xCitations: 2 * Based, in part, on studies erformed under Contracts CPA 22-69-50, CPA 70-116, and 68-02-0095 with the United states Environmental Protection Agency. AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume237, Issue1Odors: Evaluation, Utilization, and ControlSeptember 1974Pages 320-327 RelatedInformation