title: Effects of donor age on urinary chemosignals that influence the timing of first oestrus in young female house mice, Mus domesticus.
abstract: The effects of donor age on the effectiveness of puberty-influencing urinary chemosignals in wild house mice was tested in a series of 3 experiments. The chemosignal from male mice that accelerates puberty was present in the urine from about the time of puberty and throughout the normal lifespan, but declined about 1 year of age. Oestrous females released a substance in their urine that accelerates puberty in young females. This substance remained effective from first oestrus until over 1 year of age, although older females were in oestrus less frequently than younger mice. Females that are pregnant or lactating released a puberty-accelerating substance in their urine regardless of age. Production and release of the puberty-delaying chemosignal by grouped females was initiated before puberty and continued throughout the lifespan of the mouse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 62901.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Drickamer
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010675:Pheromones / Q000652:urine*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000652:urine*; D012741:Sexual Maturation
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones; D012724:Sex Attractants