cortisol

CHEMICAL SIGNALS OF CONSPECIFICS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE SEASONAL RELATIONSHIPS IN THE MONGOLIAN HAMSTER (ALLOCRICETULUS CURTATUS) (CRICETINAE, RODENTIA)

Authors: Feoktistova N. Y., Kropotkina M. V., Kuznetsova E. V.

The hormonal response of males of the Allocricetulus curtatus hamster to the natural excreta (urine and midventral gland secretion [MVGS]) of conspecific females during several seasons of the year was studied when the animals were kept in the conditions of natural light and temperature. In the autumn, no significant changes in the testosterone level in the blood of males for any of the signals presented were observed. In the winter and summer, there was a trend of increasing this indicator in response to the smells of urine and MVGS of females in their diestrus state.

Seasonal changes in the hormonal response of Eversmann hamster (Allocricetulus eversmanni, Cricetinae, Rodentia) males to conspecific females’ olfactory signals

Authors: Kropotkina M. V., Kuznetsova E. V.

Reproductive success demands both the male and female getting a particular physiological status, which is usually provided in rodents by certain olfactory signals. The hormonal response of Eversmann hamster (Allocricetulus eversmanni) males to the natural excretes (urine, midventral gland secretion (MVGS)) of conspecific females was studied during several seasons of the year, the animals kept in the conditions of natural lighting and temperature regimes. In the autumn, no reliable changes of the testosterone level in males in response to any presented signal were noted.