DECODING THE CHEMICAL LANGUAGE OF INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION IN HOUSE MICE

Abstract:

In many species of mammals, the ability to communicate reliable information about the individual identity is essential to many life-history aspects. The major source of chemical signals in rodents is urine, which contains a considerable amount of proteinaceous components, such as Major Urinary Proteins (MUPs). It has been recently shown that MUPs represent the major candidates for signaling individual identity in male house mice. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the biochemical and behavioral attempts to elucidate the biological significance of MUP production in house mice. I discuss here the problems encountered during the behavioral investigations of MUP roles in male-male and male-female social and reproductive interactions. Additionally, I present the results of a pilot experiment on alliance formation in relation to MUP-profile sharing in female mice. Clearly, more research is needed to investigate the potential implication of MUPs in signaling more aspects than individuality in house mice, such as fitness-related traits (i.e. competitive ability, social coping style, and individual reproductive success).

Keywords: chemical communication, biochemical tests, behavioral tests, house mouse sociobiology