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Predator odour and its impact on male fertility and reproduction in Phodopus campbelli  hamsters

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Abstract

 This study investigated the influence of cat urine odour in suppressing development and fertility in Campbell's hamster males. Exposure to this odour from postnatal day 11 until day 45 (sexual maturation) resulted in reduced sex organ weights, reduced testosterone levels and in an increase in abnormalities of the synaptonemal complex in both sex chromosomes and autosomes. Subsequent breeding experiments revealed a significant decrease in litter size. All these data indicate a severe effect of predator odour on the breeding success of potential prey species. It is assumed that these effects are caused by the sulphurous compounds in the urine; however, the underlying mechanisms are not yet known.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoologisches Institut/Tierphysiologie, Universität Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 28, 72076 Tübingen, Germany e-mail: raimund.apfelbach@uni-tuebingen.de Tel.: +49-7071-2972624, , , , , , DE

    R. Apfelbach

  2. Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prospect St 33, 11071 Moscow, Russia, , , , , , RU

    N. Y. Vasilieva & E. V. Cherepanova

  3. Lehrstuhl für Tierphysiologie, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany, , , , , , DE

    D. von Holst

Authors
  1. N. Y. Vasilieva
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  2. E. V. Cherepanova
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  3. D. von Holst
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  4. R. Apfelbach
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Received: 31 January 2000 / Accepted in revised form: 6 June 2000

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Vasilieva, N., Cherepanova, E., von Holst, D. et al. Predator odour and its impact on male fertility and reproduction in Phodopus campbelli  hamsters. Naturwissenschaften 87, 312–314 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001140050728

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001140050728

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