A preputial odor imprinted on female mice

Abstract

Female mice (Mus musculus) which were reared by a preputialectomized female and exposed to an intact male from 14 to 18 days of age preferred the odor of an intact male over that of a preputialectomized male when tested at 15 weeks of age. However, those females which were exposed to an intact male from 28 to 32 days of age preferred the odor of a preputialectomized male over that of an intact male, and those females which were exposed to an intact male from 0 to 4 days of age showed no reliable preferences. Females which were reared by an intact female and exposed a preputialectomized male for 4 days tended to reverse preferences. Females which were exposed to a preputialectomized male from 14 to 18 days of age preferred the odor of a preputialectomized male. However, females which were exposed to a preputialectomized male from 28 to 32 days of age preferred the odor of an intact male, as did females which were exposed to a preputialectomized male from 0 to 4 days.