title: Removal of the olfactory system modifies male bank vole behaviour in the presence of females.
abstract: The role of the olfactory and vomeronasal systems of male bank voles in behavioural interaction with females was investigated. Bulbectomy (OBX), but not vomeronasalectomy (VNX), resulted in a decrease of female-stimulated ultrasonic calling by males, manifested as longer latency to the first call and fewer calls by OBX males in comparison to VNX or sham-operated (SHAM) animals. OBX males showed significantly fewer non-aggressive approaches but more attacks toward females. Females were less aggressive toward OBX males than toward VNX or SHAM animals, manifested as longer latency to the first attack and fewer attacks toward OBX males during 10 min encounters. The report may be regarded as the first evidence that bulbectomy of the male can evoke a behavioural reaction which in turn alters the activity of a female partner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mammalian Reproduction, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 6, 30-060 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kapusta
authors.affiliation: Department of Mammalian Reproduction, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 6, 30-060 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marchlewska-Koj
authors.affiliation: Department of Hydrobiology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 6, 30-060 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Olejniczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Mammalian Reproduction, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Ingardena 6, 30-060 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kruczek