Olfactory discrimination of mouse strains (Mus musculus) and major histocompatibility types by humans (Homo sapiens).
A series of experiments revealed that humans can use olfaction to discriminate closely related strains of mice, differing genetically only at the major histocompatibility gene complex (H-2). In Experiment 1, subjects were asked to distinguish between the whole-body odors of live mice. In Experiments 2 and 3, the odor source was mouse fecal pellets, and in Experiments 4 and 5, the odor source was mouse urine.
D000818:Animals; D003463:Cues; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D006183:H-2 Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006720:Homozygote; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*
D006183:H-2 Antigens