Abstract
Grey short-tailed opossums are South American didelphid marsupials. Females rarely exhibit behavioral estrus without direct contact with a male or male chemosignals (Fadem, 1985, 1989; Baggott et al., 1987; Baggott and Moore, 1990). Male pheromonal cues alone are quite sufficient to induce behavioral estrus (Fadem, 1989). The stimulus male can be removed after five days, once proestrus behavior is initiated, and ovulation will occur without any copulatory stimulus (Baggott et al., 1987). Thus, while the presence of a male or male chemosignals is important for the induction of estrus in female opossums, it has not been established whether (i) male chemosignals are the only stimuli involved, or (ii) which olfactory epithelium mediates the chemosensory information. This study represents an initial investigation of both these aims.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Baggott, L.M., Davis-Butler, S., and Moore, H.D.M., 1987, Characterization of estrus and timed collection of oocytes in the grey short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica, J. Reprod. Fertil., 79: 105–114.
Baggott, L.M. and Moore, H.D.M., 1990, Early embryonic development of the grey short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica, in vivo and in vitro, J. Zool. Lond., 222: 623–639.
Cohen-Tannoudji, J., Llavenet, C., Locatelli, A., Tillet, Y., and Signoret, J.P., 1989, Non-involvement of the accessory olfactory system in the LH response of anoestrous ewes to male odour, J. Reprod. Fertil., 86: 135–144.
Fadem, B.H., 1985, Evidence for the activation of female reproduction by males in a marsupial, the grey short-tailed opossum ( Monodelphis domestica ), Biol. Reprod., 33: 112–116.
Fadem, B.H., 1989, The effects of pheromonal stimuli on estrus and peripheral plasma estradiol in female grey short-tailed opossums ( Monodelphis domestica) Biol. Reprod., 41: 213–217.
Halpern, M., 1987, The organization and function of the vomeronasal system, Ann. Rev. Neurosci., 10: 325–362.
Lepri, J.J. and Wysocki, C.J., 1987, Removal of the vomeronasal organ disrupts the activation of reproduction in female voles, Physiol. Behay., 40: 349–355.
Lepri, J.J., Wysocki, C.J., Gerber, K., and Lisk, R.D., 1990, The vomeronasal organ of the prairie vole: role in chemosignal activation of female reproduction and observations of fine structure, in: “Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 5”, D.W. Macdonald, D. Müller-Schwarze, and S.E. Natynczuk, eds., Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 147–153.
Saito, T.R. and Moltz, H., 1986, Sexual behavior in the female rat following removal of the vomeronasal organ, Physiol. Behay., 38: 81–87.
Signoret, J.P., 1990, Chemical signals in domestic ungulates, in: “Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 5”, D.W. Macdonald, D. Müller-Schwarze, and S.E. Natynczuk, eds., Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 610–626.
Wysocki, C.J. and Meredith, M., 1987, The vomeronasal system, in: “Neurobiology of Taste and Smell”, T.E. Finger and W.L. Silver, eds., John Wiley and Sons, New York, pp. 125–150.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Pelengaris, S.A., Abbott, D.H., Barrett, J., Mocre, H.D.M. (1992). Induction of Estrus and Ovulation in Female Grey Short-Tailed Opossums, Monodelphis Domestica, Involves the Main Olfactory Epithelium. In: Doty, R.L., Müller-Schwarze, D. (eds) Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 6. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9655-1_39
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9655-1_39
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9657-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9655-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive