March 29, 2024

Why Are Mice Afraid of Bananas?

” Mice have richer communication with one another than we think; its just that a lot of its through smell,” states Mogil. The researchers began looking for the olfactory chemical accountable. Numerous odorants were identified, but one, n-pentyl acetate, which is released in the urine of pregnant and lactating female mice, was specifically reliable at producing tension in male mice.
” Curiously, n-pentyl acetate is also accountable for the distinct smell of bananas. After a fast journey to the supermarket for some banana oil, we had the ability to confirm that the odor of banana extract worried the male mice simply as much as the pregnant females,” states co-author Lucas Lima..
The finding represents an advancement in the science of mammalian social signaling. “There are a variety of examples of male-to-female olfactory signaling in rodents, however far less examples of female-to-male signaling, especially outside of the world of sexual habits,” states Mogil.
Recommendation: “Olfactory direct exposure to lactating and late-pregnant mice triggers stress-induced analgesia in male mice” by Sarah F. Rosen, Lucas V. Lima, Civia Chen, Rachel Nejade, Mengyi Zhao, Wataru Nemoto, Ece Toprak, Aleksandrina Skvortsova, Shannon N. Tansley, Alicia Zumbusch, Susana G. Sotocinal, Charlotte Pittman and Jeffrey S. Mogil, 20 May 2022, Science Advances.DOI: 10.1126/ sciadv.abi9366.

A new type of chemical signaling in mice to protect their offspring has actually been determined by scientists.
Scientists have actually determined a type of chemical signaling in mice to defend their offspring. The researchers, from McGill University, discovered that proximity to breast feeding and pregnant female mice increased tension hormones in males and even minimized their level of sensitivity to discomfort.
” The findings have important ramifications for improving the reliability and reproducibility of experiments involving mice. This is yet another example of a formerly unknown aspect in the laboratory environment that can affect the outcomes of clinical studies,” states Jeffrey Mogil, a Professor in the Department of Psychology at McGill University and E. P. Taylor Chair in Pain Studies.
According to co-author Sarah Rosen, “what is likely taking place is that female mice are signaling to males who might be considering assaulting their children that they will protect them strongly. Its the risk of the possible approaching battle that triggers the tension.”