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Males’ Olfactory Discrimination of Receptive State of Females in Rat-Like Hamsters (Cricetulus Triton)

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Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 9

Abstract

The odors of female mammals varies with reproductive states. Males can thus detect a female’s receptive status by the odors from the whole body odor, urine, specialized skin glands, or vaginal discharge. Generally, the odors of estrous females are more attractive to males than are the odors of diestrous females (Johnston, 1983; 1985; Lai et al., 1996; Ordinola et al., 1997). In many species, estradiol plays a role in regulating the attractiveness to males of some odor sources (Ferkin and Johnston, 1993; Ferkin et al., 1991).

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Zhang, JX., Zhang, ZB., Wang, ZW. (2001). Males’ Olfactory Discrimination of Receptive State of Females in Rat-Like Hamsters (Cricetulus Triton). In: Marchlewska-Koj, A., Lepri, J.J., Müller-Schwarze, D. (eds) Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 9. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0671-3_52

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0671-3_52

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5187-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0671-3

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