Publications

microtus: a simple method of recording time spent in the nest.	a prairie vole, microtus ochrogaster, was tagged with a radioactive label, a survey meter was placed over its nest, and the presence or absence of the animal in the nest was recorded on tape.	1963	17742879
growth and age-classes in the prairie vole, microtus ochrogaster.		1968	4298126
management, breeding, and reproductive performance of the vole, microtus ochrogaster, in a laboratory colony.		1969	4237324
[the genetics of 6-pgd (ec; 1.1.1.44) in various mammals. i. studies on 6 species of microtinae, rodentia, isoenzyme polymorphism and family studies in microtus oeconomus and microtus ochrogaster].		1970	5507049
infection of microtus ochrogaster with piroplasms isolated from man.		1970	5504524
coat color mutations in two species of voles (microtus montanus and microtus ochrogaster) in the laboratory.		1971	5545556
experimental analysis of relative fitness in transferrin genotypes of microtus ochrogaster.		1971	28565029
high population density of microtus ochrogaster.		1971	5104086
esterase polymorphisms in microtus ochrogaster: interaction and linkage.		1972	4199798
postnatal development of the prairie vole, microtus ochrogaster.		1973	4347759
a quantitative description of copulatory behavior in prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster).		1973	4802024
the effect of weanling and adult males on sexual maturation in female voles (microtus ochrogaster).		1974	4837804
effects of variations in the male copulatory behavior on ovulation and implantation in prairie voles, microtus ochrogaster.	the effects of copulation on ovulation and implantation were studied in the prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster). both 1 and 2 ejaculatory series induced ovulation in 9 of 10 females. 2 ejaculatory series resulted in slightly fewer corpora lutea and implanted embryos, and in a slightly greater incidence in intrauterine mortality. in the first ejaculatory series, the likelihood of ovulation increases with increased numbers of intromissions and ejaculatory thrusts. vaginal penetration is required f ...	1974	4616904
ovarian hormones regulating sexual and social behaviors in female prairie voles, microtus ochrogaster.		1974	388476
male-induced pregnancy termination in the prairie vole, microtus ochrogaster.	postimplantation as well as preimplantation pregnancy in prairie voles can be terminated by replacing the original stud male with an unfamiliar male. the pregnancy is disrupted by the ensuing male-induced estrus. females spontaneously abort their litters, become receptive, and successfully breed again 4 or 5 days after introduction of the new male.	1975	1114340
duration of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in the prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster ochrogaster).	the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in m. o. ochrogaster was divided into eight readily recognizable stages based on the morphology of the developing spermatid. the mean relative frequencies of stages i through viii were 11.6, 19.25, 20.00, 19.00, 8.42, 6.17, 9.25 and 6.58%, respectively. the duration of one cycle of the seminiferous epithelium in this species, as determined from autoradiographs of thymidine-h3 injected testes was 7.17 days (s.e. +/- 0.03). this is the shortest spermatogeni ...	1976	781176
female odors and aggression among male microtus.	the influence of female odors on agonistic behavior among grouped male prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) was studied. after the introduction of female odors, investigative behavioral interactions between the males increased in frequency. the source of the odor, the sexual experience of the males, and the ongoing behavior of the group influenced the intensity of the behavioral response. sexually experienced males showed the greatest number of agonistic instances and attempted sexual interac ...	1976	779757
effects of vaginal-cervical stimulation in seven species of muroid rodents.	six species of muroid rodents (peromyscus californicus, p. eremicus, p. gossypinus, mesocricetus auratus, rattus norvegicus and r. rattus) were given artificlal vaginal-cervical stimulation in an attempt to induce pseudopregnancy. some females of each species became pseudopregnant, but it was not clear that stimulation patterns mimicking the copulatory patterns of conspecific males were more effective than other patterns of stimulation. in the non-domesticated species (peromyscus and r. rattus) ...	1977	321772
shifts of thermogenesis in the prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster) : strategies for survival in a seasonal environment.	the weight-specific oxygen consumption ([formula: see text]) of prairie voles caught in winter is 24% higher at 27.5° c and 29% higher at 7.5° c than that of summer animals, thus affording a higher weight-specific thermogenesis in winter than in summer which may allow tolerance to lower thermal exposures. coincident with the increase in weight-specific rates of oxygen consumption is a decrease in body weight. when total energetic cost to maintain an animal per unit time is calculated, the cost a ...	1977	28308803
temporal patterns of allozymic variation in fluctuating populations of microtus ochrogaster.		1978	28567928
small mammal community ecology : changes in species diversity in response to manipulated productivity.	the abundance of food in natural 1-ha plot of shortgrass prairie was artificially manipulated by adding alfalfa pellets and whole oats on a regular schedule. the small mammal species naturally inhabiting the manipulated food plot did not respond in either their density or weight to the supplemented food. however, a new specialized seed-eating species, dipodomys ordii, invaded the food plot and persisted in relatively high density. as a result of this colonization, species diversity was significa ...	1978	28309543
male-related pheromones and the activation of female reproduction in the prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster).		1980	7008851
phenotypic variation in electromorphs previously considered to be genetic markers in microtus ochrogaster.	the allelic frequencies of the plasma enzymes transferrin (tf) and leucine aminopeptidase (lap) have been shown previously to correlate with population density, population growth rate and mortality in microtus ochrogaster. such changes in allozymic frequencies of tf and lap have been used by others as evidence supporting the chitty/krebs genetic-behavioral hypothesis of population growth. in this study, prairie voles were captured in midwinter and in midsummer, and brought to the lab where their ...	1981	28310095
male vole urine changes luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone and norepinephrine in female olfactory bulb.	female prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) exposed to a single drop of male urine on the upper lip showed changes in concentrations of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (lhrh) and norepinephrine in olfactory bulb tissue; no such changes occurred in dopamine concentration. the changes were measured in the posterior but not the anterior olfactory bulb tissue of females within 1 hour after they were exposed to urine. these females also showed rapid increases in serum concentrations of luteiniz ...	1981	7010608
resistance of the prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster) and the woodrat (neotoma floridana), in kansas, to venom of the osage copperhead (agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster).	prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster) serum has no anti-lysing or antibody activity against osage copperhead (agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster) venom. however, the serum has an anti-hemorrhagic component, which significantly reduces the size of hemorrhage produced by the minimal hemorrhagic dose of venom and which blocks the minimal hemorrhagic dose at a dilution of 1/8. woodrat (neotoma floridana) serum also has an antihemorrhagic component which blocks the minimal hemorrhagic dose at a dilutio ...	1982	6753240
nonspecific esterases of mus musculus.	seventeen genes controlling the expression of carboxylic ester hydrolases, commonly known as esterases, have been identified in the mouse mus musculus. seven esterase loci are found on chromosome 8, where two clusters of esterase loci occur. it seems probable that the genes within these clusters have arisen from a common ancestral gene by tandem duplication. close linkage of esterase genes is also found in the rat, rabbit, and prairie vole. some mouse esterases appear to be homologous with certa ...	1982	7115289
reliability of transferrin and leucine aminopeptidase phenotyping in wild meadow voles (microtus pennsylvanicus).	replicate plasma samples from wild microtus pennsylvanicus were typed by gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for the transferrin and leucine aminopeptidase polymorphisms. phenotypes remained the same through major seasonal changes in reproductive activity and environmental conditions. possible explanations for the anomalous phenotypic variation seen in microtus ochrogaster [mcgovern m., and tracy, c. r. (1981). oecologia 51:276] are discussed.	1983	6362658
suppression of reproductive maturation in male-stimulated virgin female microtus by a female urinary chemosignal.	urine from female microtus ochrogaster possesses a chemosignal that suppresses reproductive maturation in other females. uterine enlargement in virgin females stimulated by a male was suppressed by subsequent association with another female or by application of female urine on the nose. females so suppressed are not able to achieve estrus. urine from virgin sibling and non-sibling females and from pregnant females possesses the suppressing effect.	1983	24923608
plant phenolics as chemical defenses: effects of natural phenolics on survival and growth of prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster).	very few studies have shown experimentally that plant chemical defenses actually reduce the performance of individual mammalian herbivores, much less the density of mammalian populations. we investigated the effects of representatives of three classes of plant phenoiics on the survival and growth of prairie voles by incorporating the compounds into artificial diets and feeding them to weanlings for three weeks. at low levels of protein, both quercetin (a flavonoid) and tannic acid (a hydrolyzabl ...	1984	24318492
pregnancy interruption in microtus ochrogaster: laboratory artifact or field phenomenon?	females of at least 8 species of rodent will terminate pregnancies after exposure to a "strange" male or his odors in the laboratory. although only suggestive evidence exists for the occurrence of pregnancy interruption in the field, this laboratory phenomenon has been assigned important adaptive roles in the reproductive biology of rodents. in the present study, the extent of pregnancy interruption was investigated for prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) in semi-natural enclosures where contin ...	1984	6380603
conversion of glucose, acetate and lactate to co2 and fatty acids in liver and adipose tissue of prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster).	production of co2 and fatty acids from acetate, glucose and lactate was determined in slices of liver and adipose tissue from prairie voles fed either a high-starch or a high-cellulose diet. acetate and lactate were oxidized to co2 and converted to fatty acids at greater rates than was glucose in both liver and adipose tissue. fatty acid synthesis occurred at greater rates in adipose tissue than in liver. fatty acid synthesis per adipocyte increased with increased adipocyte diameter. fiber conte ...	1984	6430637
neuroendocrine responsiveness to oestradiol and male urine in neonatally androgenized prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster).	the influence of neonatal androgenization on behavioural receptivity was tested by treating female voles on the 3rd day of life with testosterone propionate or with the oil vehicle. after treatment in adulthood with urine or with oestradiol benzoate, androgenized voles were less likely than normal females to display behavioural oestrus and were more likely to engage in agonistic behaviour in tests with stud males. uteri of androgenized and control females treated with oestradiol benzoate in adul ...	1985	3900382
are transferrin and leucine aminopeptidase electromorphs reliable genetic markers in the prairie vole, microtus ochrogaster?	the reliability of tf and lap electromorphs as genetic markers in microtus ochrogaster was examined by taking 18 voles captured in the wild during the summer and subjecting them to winter conditions for one month. during this time voles were bled each week and their plasma scored for tf and lap phenotypes using starch gel electrophoresis. there were no changes in the mobility of the tf and lap electromorphs in the same animal when fresh samples were used for electrophoresis. however, there were ...	1985	28310814
photoperiod influences reproduction in the prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster).	four experiments examined the role of photoperiod in the regulation of seasonal breeding in the prairie vole. adult male voles maintained in short (8l:16d) as compared to long (16l:8d) photoperiods for 10 wk had reduced testicular and seminal vesicle weights, but fertility was not impaired. male prairie voles reared from birth until 35 days of age in short as compared to long photoperiods also had reduced testicular and seminal vesicle weights, as well as diminished fertility. the incidence of p ...	1985	3902106
photoperiodic regulation of reproductive development in male prairie voles: influence of laboratory breeding.	two populations of male prairie voles, one derived from an outbred laboratory colony and the second consisting of f1 offspring of wild-trapped voles, were tested for responsiveness to photoperiod. animals were reared from birth until 35 days of age either in 16l:8d or 8l:16d photoperiods. short day lengths did not affect the reproductive apparatus of the laboratory-strain voles; however, offspring of wild-caught voles manifested arrested development of the reproductive system in short photoperio ...	1985	3899205
lespedeza phenolics and penstemon alkaloids: effects on digestion efficiencies and growth of voles.	lespedeza cuneata contains high levels of phenolics and is a common food plant of the meadow vole (microtus pennsylvanicus);penstemon digitalis contains substantial quantities of alkaloids and is a common food plant of meadow voles and prairie voles (m. ochrogaster). we investigated the palatability of these plants and the effects of their secondary compounds on the digestion efficiencies and growth of both species of voles. voles ate very little of either plant when alternative food was present ...	1986	24306910
the influences of conspecific and heterospecific residents on colonization.	to determine if dispersing prairie voles, microtus ochrogaster, are prevented from establishing home ranges in habitat already occupied by conspecifics or potentially competitive species, voles were introduced into enclosed populations of: the same species; southern bog lemmings, synaptomys cooperi; cotton rats, sigmodon hispidus; or an empty enclosure. the results indicated that colonization by dispersing voles was negatively affected by resident conspecifics. introduced females were more stron ...	1987	29357185
male stimuli are necessary for female sexual behavior and uterine growth in prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster).	in reproductively naive female prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) direct contact with male urine or housing in a male-soiled cage, in the absence of physical contact, resulted in increased uterine weights, but did not reliably elicit behavioral estrus (defined by lordosis). physical contact with an unfamiliar male, for 1 hr or more, followed by 30 or 48 hr of continuous access to a male-soiled cage, induced lordosis in approximately two-thirds of the females tested. when females were physicall ...	1987	3549517
estrogen and the induction of lordosis in female and male prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster).	estrogen elicited lordosis in ovariectomized female prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). treatment with estradiol benzoate (eb) was particularly effective if administered as multiple injections. very high dose levels were not, in general, any more effective than lower doses. individual animals typically showed lordosis within 24 to 48 hr following the onset of eb treatment and prolonged treatments did not increase the percentage of females responding to eb. castrated male prairie voles did not ...	1987	3549516
males increase serum estrogen and estrogen receptor binding in brain of female voles.	sexual development of female prairie voles does not occur unless females are exposed to stimuli from an unfamiliar male. three experiments were conducted to determine whether a saturable high-affinity estradiol binding site (ern) is present in cell nuclei of brain tissue from females exposed to male stimuli and whether serum estradiol and brain ern are correlated with the duration of male exposure. brain ern were detected and found to be correlated with serum estradiol levels. significant increa ...	1987	3554283
removal of the vomeronasal organ disrupts the activation of reproduction in female voles.	the reproductive system of female prairie voles remains quiescent in the absence of stimulation from males; however, chemosignals from males are capable of at least partially activating female reproduction. in other species, the vomeronasal system mediates some of the reproductive responses of females to males. we found that surgical removal of the vomeronasal organ (vnx) from adult female prairie voles impeded reproductive activation in response to pairing with stud males: ovarian and uterine w ...	1987	3310053
the effects of cross-fostering on the development of social preferences in meadow voles (microtus pennsylvanicus).	to determine the role of the parental environment in the formation of species attachments in the meadow vole (microtus pennsylvanicus), young of this species were fostered to either meadow vole parents (in-fostered young) or to prairie vole parents (m. ochrogaster; cross-fostered young). at 50 to 60 days of age, subjects were tested for social preference in an environment that simulated the conditions of a runway system. the testing design assessed the reaction of fostered animals to a novel spe ...	1987	3555453
males increase progestin receptor binding in brain of female voles.	in female prairie voles, behavioral estrus is induced by exposure to an unfamiliar male and ovulation is induced by mating. experiments were conducted to determine whether a saturable high-affinity progestin binding site (prc) is present in cytosols of brain tissue from females exposed to male stimuli for a period of time which is sufficient to bring most females into heat. prc were detected in both the medialbasal hypothalamus (mbh) and preoptic area (poa). however, prc levels increased in resp ...	1988	3285365
morphology of the cyst of giardia microti by light and electron microscopy.	cysts of giardia microti, isolated from feces and intestinal contents of microtus ochrogaster, were examined by light and electron microscopy. these cysts differed morphologically from cysts of other g. duodenalis morphological types in that these cysts often contained two apparently differentiated trophozoites with mature ventral discs. cysts more closely resembling those reported for g. lamblia and g. muris were in greater abundance in preparations made from intestinal contents and were interp ...	1988	3285001
ultrastructural evidence for the presence of bacteria, viral-like particles, and mycoplasma-like organisms associated with giardia spp.	giardia trophozoites and cysts, isolated from mammalian and avian hosts, were examined by transmission electron microscopy (tem), scanning electron microscopy (sem), and by fluorescent light microscopy for the presence of microbial symbionts. mycoplasma-like organisms were observed on the surfaces of trophozoites isolated from the prairie vole, laboratory rat, and beaver. intracellular bacteria were observed by tem in the trophozoites and cysts of g. microti and by fluorescence microscopy in tro ...	1988	3284999
effects of hormonal, sexual, and social history on mating and pair bonding in prairie voles.	the interactive effects of hormones, sexual history and cohabitation on sexual and social behaviors were examined in pairs of ovariectomized female and sexually experienced male prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). monitoring with time lapse video tape revealed that females in estradiol benzoate (eb)-induced estrus, and their male partners engaged in high levels of sexual activity which continued intermittently for at least 3 days (until observations were arbitrarily terminated). in conjunction ...	1988	3074309
ultrasonic vocalizations by adult prairie voles, microtus ochrogaster.	male and female microtus ochrogaster were presented with anesthetized and awake conspecifics while ultrasonic vocalizations (usvs) were monitored. males produced significantly more usvs than females during 5-min testing sessions. males tended to produce more usvs to unfamiliar females than to familiar female siblings. sexual experience led to increased usv scores by males. these results suggest that usvs by male prairie voles communicate to females the male's gender and his availability for repr ...	1988	3280341
effects of experience and available cues on estrous versus diestrous preferences in male prairie voles, microtus ochrogaster.	male prairie vole preferences for estrous versus diestrous females and associated stimuli were investigated. the role of sexual experience in engendering preferences proved more complex than reported for other species. naive males did not display preferences. neither males receiving sexual experience through monogamous cohabitation, nor males housed with two females displayed preferences. males exposed to both estrous and diestrous females, and males housed with other males and females in a semi ...	1988	3290915
demography of the western harvest mouse, reithrodontomys megalotis, in eastern kansas.	reithrodontomys megalotis was live-trapped on three open field grids in eastern kansas from august 1979 to august 1982. one grid was a control on which normal demography was monitored, and two were experimental grids where periodic removal of residents allowed the investigation of the demographic and fitness consequences of emigration. popullations on the control grid showed an annual cycle in numbers, reaching peaks in density during the winter of each year, falling to low densities during the ...	1988	28312689
sexual activity and satiety over an extended observation period in prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster).	this study was designed to delineate the course of sexual satiation in prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). fourteen male-female pairs were allowed to copulate freely for 24 hr under continuous observation. copulations occurred predominantly during the first few hours and decreased in frequency thereafter. the mean number of ejaculations per pair was 5.6 (range, 2-9). two thirds of the ejaculations occurred during the first 3 hr, and over 90% took place within the first 7 hr after the first int ...	1988	3063428
influence of male gonadal hormones and familiarity on pregnancy interruption in prairie voles.	pregnancy interruption (pi) was examined in female prairie voles, microtus ochrogaster, exposed to stimuli from males 7 to 12 days after pairing. urine from unfamiliar males interrupted pregnancy when placed directly on the external nares of newly mated females, but urine from familiar stud males was without effect. castration of males did not reduce the efficacy of unfamiliar male urine in interrupting pregnancy. the neuroendocrine system of female prairie voles responded selectively to male ur ...	1988	3061485
multiple exposures to adult males and reproductive activation of virgin female microtus ochrogaster.	virgin female microtus ochrogaster living in family groups were reproductively activated by twelve 1-hr exposures over a 3-day period to unrelated sexually experienced males. reproductive activation among virgin females receiving six or eight exposures over a 2- or 3-day period did not differ significantly from that of unexposed control females. thus, frequent multiple exposures to unfamiliar males (and repeated stimulation by a male urinary chemosignal) can override the reproductive suppression ...	1988	24896910
social stimuli augment estrogen receptor binding in preoptic area of female prairie voles.	in female prairie voles ovarian estrogen secretion is stimulated by exposure to males. the present study determined that social stimuli can also enhance the neural response to estrogen. ovariectomized female voles given a fixed amount of estradiol and exposed to males had higher levels of estrogen receptor binding in cell nuclei in the preoptic area than did females given estrogen and not exposed to males.	1989	2649206
photoperiod and temperature affect reproductive and nonreproductive functions in male prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster).	adult male prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) were housed for 10 wk and exposed to long (16l:8d) or short (8l:16d) photoperiods at 21 degrees or 5 degrees c. maintenance in short day lengths reduced testicular, epididymal, and seminal vesicle mass and also significantly depressed spermatogenic activity. cold ambient temperature further suppressed gonadal size in voles exposed to short days. several pelage characteristics were affected by photoperiod, but not by temperature. increased fur densi ...	1989	2667648
simulated drought influences reproduction in male prairie voles.	the environmental factors that arrest breeding in prairie voles during the middle of the breeding season are unknown. the role of water availability on reproductive function was examined by limiting water intake to 50% of ad lib water consumption for 10 weeks. at autopsy, testicular, epididymal and seminal vesicle masses were reduced in water restricted males as compared to animals with ad lib access to water. body mass was also reduced in water restricted males. plasma testosterone levels and t ...	1989	2697880
effects of temperature and infection with eimeria ochrogasteri on digestive organs of the prairie vole, microtus ochrogaster.	prairie voles, microtus ochrogaster, were infected with eimeria ochrogasteri and exposed to 2 environmental temperatures, 5 and 22 c. dry weights of the small and large intestines increased by 33% and 19%, respectively, in infected animals. infected animals also exhibited a 14% decrease in cecal length compared to uninfected animals. the interaction between temperature and infection affected the length of the small intestine. infected animals maintained at 5 c had longer small intestines than bo ...	1989	2668491
affiliative behavior in voles: effects of morphine, naloxone, and cross-fostering.	species differences in affiliative behavior were examined in prairie and montane voles. unfamiliar male-female pairs were placed in a test-cage for 2 hr and side-by-side huddling was recorded during the third hour. prairie vole pairs spent a mean of 31.2 minutes in contact whereas montane voles were in contact only 1.3 minutes. in order to examine the effects of experience on affiliative differences, pups of each species were cross-fostered. fostered prairie vole parents did not survive longer t ...	1989	2557648
a comparative study of rodent ultrasonic vocalizations during copulation.	the temporal patterning of ultrasonic vocalizations (usvs) during copulation was recorded for male-female pairs of djungarian hamsters (phodopus campbelli), prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster), and montane voles (microtus montanus). each species appears to utilize a single major frequency band for usvs, centered around 31 khz for the vole species and 71 khz for hamsters. djungarian hamsters exhibited low rates of usvs prior to introduction of the female and following ejaculation, but a high usv ...	1989	2649070
patterns of sperm allocation across successive ejaculates in four species of voles (microtus).	this study was designed to determine testes masses, total number of spermatozoa ejaculated per copulatory episode, and the pattern of sperm numbers in successive ejaculates in prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster), montane voles (m. montanus), pine voles (m. pinetorum), and meadow voles (m. pennsylvanicus). prairie voles displayed mean totals of 2.7 ejaculations and 30.5 x 10(6) spermatozoa before reaching a satiety criterion; montane voles 3.4 ejaculations and 19.0 x 10(6) spermatozoa, pine vole ...	1990	2179544
differences in affiliative behavior, pair bonding, and vaginal cytology in two species of vole (microtus ochrogaster and m. montanus).	prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) and montane voles (m. montanus) display marked differences in social organization in the field. trios of 1 male and 2 females were studied in a large enclosure for a 10-day period. prairie voles spent 59% of the observation time in side-by-side contact, whereas montane voles spent only 7% of the time in contact. vaginal smears indicated female-female suppression of estrus in prairie voles; female montane voles appeared to cycle in the presence of males. male ...	1990	2225765
infant's response to social separation reflects adult differences in affiliative behavior: a comparative developmental study in prairie and montane voles.	as part of a comparative study of affiliative behavior, pups of two different vole species, microtus ochrogaster (prairie voles) and m. montanus (montane voles), were compared for their responses to social isolation during the first 2 weeks of postnatal life. previous studies have demonstrated that under both laboratory and field conditions, adult prairie voles show higher levels of affiliation than adult montane voles, although the species closely resemble each other morphologically. in the cur ...	1990	2253816
sex differences in spatial ability and activity in two vole species (microtus ochrogaster and m. pennsylvanicus).	the hypothesis that sex differences in maze learning result from sex differences in activity was tested with wild-caught prairie (microtus ochrogaster) and meadow (m. pennsylvanicus) voles. for 38 voles error production and activity were simultaneously measured in a series of 7 symmetrical mazes. repeated-measures analyses of variance (anovas) examined species, sex, maze, and interaction effects for 3 dependent variables: errors, activity, and errors/activity. the pattern of significant effects ...	1990	2191835
effects of small mammal and invertebrate herbivory on plant species richness and abundance in tallgrass prairie.	a factorial field experiment was designed to test the effects of small mammals and above- and below-ground invertebrates on plant species richness and composition in native tallgrass prairie at konza prairie research natural area, northeast kansas. over a 4-year period, microtus ochrogaster densities were maintained by live-trapping in fenced plots, and invertebrate levels were reduced using the pesticides carbaryl for above-ground invertebrates and an organophosphate (isofenphos) for belowgroun ...	1990	28312749
central and peripheral effects of oxytocin administration in prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster).	the present study examined the hypothesis that oxytocin (ot) may influence female sexual behavior in prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). the effectiveness of ot to induce sexual behavior was tested in ovariectomized females that were injected daily with estradiol benzoate (eb, 0.02 micrograms, twice), a dose insufficient for estrus induction. on the third day females received intracerebroventricular (icv) injections of ot (1, 300, or 1000 ng) or saline vehicle. in the presence of minimal estro ...	1990	2263668
effects of experience and motivation on symmetrical-maze performance in the prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster).	sex differences in spatial skills are sometimes attributed to sex differences in spatial experience. this hypothesis rests on two assumptions: spatial experience typically differs with sex and spatial experience has lasting effects on spatial cognition. we tested the latter assumption in a controlled experiment with wild-caught prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) and their spatially deprived, laboratory-reared, first-generation offspring; we found the assumption to be unjustified. although majo ...	1990	2194739
activation of reproduction in nulliparous and primiparous voles is blocked by vomeronasal organ removal.	chemical cues from male voles activate reproduction in female prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). twelve hours of contact with a male, followed by exposure to his soiled bedding for 2 days, is sufficient to initiate follicular maturation and induce uterine hypertrophy. our recent work indicates that the chemosensory vomeronasal organ (vno) can mediate this response. here, we examined whether other sensory systems can acquire the ability to activate female reproduction as a result of learning o ...	1991	1751636
maternal diet influences reproductive development in male prairie vole offspring.	the plant compound, 6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone (6-mboa), is found in the meristematic tissue of young, vegetatively growing grasses, and its ingestion stimulates the reproductive system of rodents in both short and long photoperiods. the present study demonstrates the existence of a novel mechanism whereby the presence of 6-mboa in the diet of pregnant prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) enhances gonadal development in their male offspring. female voles were fed specially milled food in which ...	1991	1805270
effects of photoperiod and 6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone on male-induced estrus in prairie voles.	prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) are characterized as facultative breeders with higher rates of reproductive activities observed during spring and summer than autumn and winter. the environmental factors regulating seasonal breeding in this species remain unspecified. short day lengths inhibit reproductive organ development in male prairie voles in the laboratory, but these males remain fertile and capable of siring offspring; female prairie voles have been reported to be reproductively unre ...	1991	2017478
female-female interactions and social stress in prairie voles.	trios of prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) composed of either two estrous sibling or nonsibling females and one male were monitored via time-lapse videotaping over 72 hr. social and sexual behaviors were analyzed as a function of trio type (sibling or nonsibling) and fate (survivor or nonsurvivor) across 12-h time blocks. within nonsibling trios, females that were able to maintain prolonged physical contact with the male within the first 3 days of trio formation later survived and successfull ...	1991	1996946
age of pairing affects reproduction in prairie voles.	the effect of the age at pairing on reproduction of weanling prairie voles was studied. the proportion of pairs producing a litter within 60 days was influenced significantly by the age at pairing. more voles paired at 31 days of age produced litters than those paired at 21 days of age. assuming a gestation interval of 21 days, the earliest mating occurred around 33 days of age in both groups. on average, successful matings did not occur until voles were housed together for 2 to 3 weeks. no othe ...	1991	1921321
oxytocin inhibits male sexual behavior in prairie voles.	intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of oxytocin (300 ng) produced an immediate cessation in sexual behavior in sexually active male prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). other social behaviors including social contact, aggression, and autogrooming were not significantly affected by oxytocin, but males that received oxytocin icv, versus injections that missed the ventricles, showed more sleep postures. sexual behavior remained inhibited for at least 24 hours and was not activated in tests wit ...	1991	1924508
consequences of removing the vomeronasal organ.	in the last decade, research in our laboratories has focused on the effects of deafferentation of the mammalian chemosensory vomeronasal organ (vnx). many different assays have been conducted and the results of some are briefly reviewed in this contribution, including the effects of vnx on neuroanatomical assessments using histochemistry (lectin binding) and immunohistochemistry (lhrh), male mouse and prairie vole ultrasonic vocalizations and hormone surges in response to cues from females, male ...	1991	1892795
sporocysts isolated from the southern copperhead (agkistrodon contortrix contortrix) produce sarcocystis montanaensis-like sarcocysts in prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster).	sporulated oocysts and free sporocysts of a sarcocystis sp. were isolated from the feces of a southern copperhead (agkistrodon contortrix contortrix) collected in arkansas (usa). twenty sporocysts measured 11.2 by 8.5 microns, lacked a stieda body, and had four sporozoites and a granular sporocyst residuum. sarcocysts similar to those of sarcocystis montanaensis were present in the tongues of prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) inoculated orally with 800 sporocysts 128 days previously. sarcocys ...	1991	1902524
comparative neuroanatomy of the sexually dimorphic hypothalamus in monogamous and polygamous voles.	in the present work we evaluated the degree of sexual dimorphism in two cell groups of the medial preoptic-anterior hypothalamus (mpoa-ah) in monogamous and polygamous voles. quantitative determinations were made of volume, cell number, and cell density for the anteroventral-periventricular nucleus (avpv) and the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (sdn-poa). polygamous montane voles (microtus montanus) had a greater degree of sexual dimorphism in both cell groups than did monogamous ...	1991	2054639
oxytocin receptor binding in female prairie voles: endogenous and exogenous oestradiol stimulation.	abstract previous studies have demonstrated that oxytocin receptors in specific nuclei of rat forebrain are regulated by gonadal steroids. the current study used in vitro receptor autoradiography to investigate the distribution and regulation of oxytocin receptors in the forebrain of the female prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster). in contrast to rats, in female prairie voles gonadal steroid secretion and oestrus behaviour result from male chemosignal stimulation and ovulation is induced by matin ...	1991	19215517
oxytocin--a neuropeptide for affiliation: evidence from behavioral, receptor autoradiographic, and comparative studies.	oxytocin (ot) is a nine amino acid peptide synthesized in hypothalamic cells which project either to the neurohypophysis or to sites within the central nervous system. although neurohypophyseal ot release has long been associated with uterine contraction and milk ejection, the function of intracerebral ot remains unclear. on the basis of behavioral, cellular, and comparative studies, this review suggests that brain ot influences the formation of social bonds. the first part of this review examin ...	1992	1319071
oxytocin receptor distribution reflects social organization in monogamous and polygamous voles.	the neuropeptide oxytocin has been implicated in the mediation of several forms of affiliative behavior including parental care, grooming, and sex behavior. here we demonstrate that species from the genus microtus (voles) selected for differences in social affiliation show contrasting patterns of oxytocin receptor expression in brain. by in vitro receptor autoradiography with an iodinated oxytocin analogue, specific binding to brain oxytocin receptors was observed in both the monogamous prairie ...	1992	1321430
ejaculate disruption in two species of voles (microtus): on the pei matching law.	we permitted male prairie and montane voles (microtus ochrogaster and m. montanus) five thrusts, without ejaculation, with a female at variable times after a 1st male ejaculated. in both prairie and montane voles, there were fewer sperm, in relation to control conditions, in the female's tract 1 hr after ejaculation if the female received thrusts immediately or 15 min after the ejaculate. there was no such effect after a 50-min delay. there was no significant decrease in litter production in pra ...	1992	1451421
the red-tailed hawk, buteo jamaicensis, a native definitive host of frenkelia microti (apicomplexa) in north america.	oral inoculation of prairie voles, microtus ochrogaster, with coccidian sporocysts isolated from the feces of a red-tailed hawk, buteo jamaicensis, in kansas, usa, resulted in formation of frenkelia microti (apicomplexa: sarcocystidae) tissue cysts in the brains of the voles. five additional isolates of morphologically similar sporocysts collected from red-tailed hawks or other buteo spp. in kansas failed to result in detectable infections in rodents. these results are the first to verify that r ...	1992	1548806
the effects of mate removal on pregnancy success in prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) and meadow voles (microtus pennsylvanicus).	the effects of removing the stud male have not been controlled in many studies relating pregnancy block to the presence of an unfamiliar male. we examined the effects of removing the male on pregnancy success in prairie voles and meadow voles, two species that differ in degree of paternal investment. whereas prairie vole males provide extensive care to offspring and accelerate pup development, meadow vole males display little or no care and delay development of pups. we predicted that removal of ...	1992	1637945
estrus induction in four species of voles (microtus).	male-induced estrus was examined in montane (microtus montanus), meadow (m. pennsylvanicus), prairie (m. ochrogaster), and pine (m. pinetorum) voles. duration of male contact needed for receptivity, effects of parity, and vaginal cytology were assessed. among nulliparous females, montane voles attained receptivity with less male contact than prairie voles. meadow and pine voles showed very low receptivity rates. among parous females, montane and meadow voles did not differ in duration of male co ...	1992	1451419
olfactory bulb removal affects partner preference development and estrus induction in female prairie voles.	in female prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) bilateral olfactory bulbectomy reduced affiliative behavior, as measured by social contact, and prevented the formation of partner preferences. unilateral olfactory bulb removal did not significantly influence affiliative behavior, but did inhibit partner preferences. bilateral, but not unilateral, bulbectomy significantly reduced the proportion of females exhibiting behavioral estrus following male exposure. in contrast to affiliative and sexual be ...	1992	1409933
development of partner preferences in female prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster): the role of social and sexual experience.	prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) exhibit a monogamous mating system characterized by long-term pair bonds between mates. the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cohabitation time and sexual experience on the development of pair bond formation in female prairie voles. females that were allowed to cohabit for 24 hr or more, with or without mating, exhibited a strong social preference for a familiar partner versus a strange male. females that cohabited and mated for 6 hr showed s ...	1992	1398553
partner preference development in female prairie voles is facilitated by mating or the central infusion of oxytocin.	results of these experiments indicate that females given at least 24 hours of cohabitation with a male develop a social preference for the familiar partner versus a stranger. mating is not essential for the development of partner preferences, but clearly facilitates the onset of preferences. females given six hours of cohabitation showed partner preferences only if they mated with the partner during cohabitation (experiment 2) or if they received oxytocin (experiment 3). females that continued t ...	1992	1626857
oxytocin and social bonding.	the prairie vole is an excellent model for examining the neurobiology of social attachment, and in particular of pair-bond formation. in female prairie voles either sexual interactions or oxytocin infusions can hasten the formation of a partner preference. these results implicate oxytocin in the formation of adult heterosexual social bonds. in conjunction with work on other social systems described in this volume, these findings also support the suggestions of klopfer and newton that oxytocin ma ...	1992	1626829
winter adaptations of male deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) and prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) that vary in reproductive responsiveness to photoperiod.	individuals of many nontropical rodent species restrict breeding to the spring and summer. seasonal reproductive quiescence putatively reflects the energetic incompatibility of breeding and thermoregulatory activities. however, so-called "out-of-season" breeding occurs in virtually all rodent populations examined, suggesting that the incompatibility can be resolved. both reproductive inhibition and development of energy-saving adaptations are mediated by environmental photoperiod, but some indiv ...	1993	8280911
testosterone effects on paternal behavior and vasopressin immunoreactive projections in prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster).	castration reduced paternal responsiveness of male prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). castration also reduced the number of vasopressin immunoreactive (avp-ir) cells in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (bst) and medial amygdaloid nucleus (ma), as well as the density of avp-ir fibers in the lateral septum. testosterone treatment of castrated voles prevented these changes. the similarities in the effects of the hormonal manipulations on paternal responsiveness and avp immunoreactivity pr ...	1993	8298988
a role for central vasopressin in pair bonding in monogamous prairie voles.	monogamous social organization is characterized by selective affiliation with a partner, high levels of paternal behaviour and, in many species, intense aggression towards strangers for defence of territory, nest and mate. although much has been written about the evolutionary causes of monogamy, little is known about the proximate mechanisms for pair bonding in monogamous mammals. the prairie vole, microtus ochrogaster, is a monogamous, biparental rodent which exhibits long-term pair bonds chara ...	1993	8413608
the effects of chronic tannic acid intake on prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster) reproduction.	the hypothesis was tested that the reproductive performance of voles would be reduced when fed diets containing tannins either because of increased metabolic rates, decreased intake, or decreased digestive efficiency. we fed a ration containing 4% tannic acid (ta) (dry mass basis) to 24 pair of prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) and compared reproductive performance (litter size, birth weights, body mass of the young until weaning, and mass changes in the dams) to that of 24 pair of prairie vo ...	1993	24249184
reproductive activation of virgin female prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) by paired and unpaired males.	virgin female microtus ochrogaster were exposed to paired and unpaired unfamiliar adult males in semi-natural arenas. although females were reproductively activated by both types of males, more than twice as many were activated by unpaired (51.6%) as by paired (18.2%) males. our results suggest that, in natural populations of prairie voles, the proportion of philopatric females becoming reproductive is related to the abundance of unpaired males within the population.	1993	24895934
monogamy and the prairie vole.		1993	8516669
acetate, butyrate and proline uptake in the caecum and colon of prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster).	we have measured unidirectional uptake (not transmural flux) of acetate, butyrate and proline by everted sleeves of intact tissue from the jejunum, caecum, proximal colon and distal colon of prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). there was active (i.e. na(+)-dependent) transport of l-proline in the jejunum, but we found no evidence for it in any region of the hindgut (i.e. the caecum, proximal colon and distal colon). uptake of acetate was carrier-mediated in all three regions of the hindgut, but ...	1993	8478602
sex and species differences in the vasopressin innervation of sexually naive and parental prairie voles, microtus ochrogaster and meadow voles, microtus pennsylvanicus.	to study whether central systems that are implicated in functions associated with reproduction show different changes in males and females that become parental, the central vasopressin (avp) innervation was compared in two species of voles: prairie voles, in which males and females provide parental care, and meadow voles, in which only females provide parental care. for both species, the densities of avp-immunoreactive (avp-ir) fibers in the lateral septum, lateral habenular nucleus, medial preo ...	1993	8319000
affiliative behavior in different species of voles (microtus).	data were collected on the huddling behavior of pine voles, microtus pinetorum, and meadow voles, m. pennsylvanicus, to supplement earlier data on prairie voles and montane voles. species that are social/monogamous in the field tended to huddle more in the laboratory. contact proneness may be one factor driving different mating systems in the field.	1993	8451367
oxytocin and complex social behavior: species comparisons.	the neurohypophyseal peptide hormone oxytocin functions as a neuropeptide in several brain areas in addition to its role as a posterior pituitary hormone. several studies have determined significant differences in patterns of oxytocin receptor binding in the brains of two closely related species of vole. one of the defining features of these two species is remarkably different reproductive behavior strategies. the prairie vole forms long-term monogamous relationships; the montane vole is polygam ...	1993	8121969
comparisons of nipple attachment and incisor growth among four species of voles (microtus).	patterns of nipple attachment and incisor growth were compared between four species of voles (microtus). offspring of two highly social species, prairie voles (m. ochrogaster) and pine voles (m. pinetorum), were shown to cling tightly to the nipples of their dams on days 2, 6, and 10. this pattern contrasted to weak nipple attachment displayed by two less-social species, meadow voles (m. pennsylvanicus) and montane voles (m. montanus). lengths of the upper (maxillary) and lower (mandibular) inci ...	1994	7926283
sex and species differences in the effects of cohabitation on vasopressin messenger rna expression in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) and meadow voles (microtus pennsylvanicus).	three days of male and female cohabitation dramatically reduces the density of vasopressin-immunoreactive (avp-ir) fibers in the lateral septum and lateral habenular nucleus of male, but not of female prairie voles. here we tested whether this reduction is associated with changes in avp messenger rna (mrna) expression in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (bst), the presumed source of these fibers, and with changes in testosterone levels, which may influence avp biosynthesis in the bst. in ...	1994	7953686
effect of vomeronasal organ removal on behavioral estrus and mating latency in female meadow voles (microtus pennsylvanicus).	the vomeronasal organ (vno) mediates the induction of behavioral estrus in prairie voles by male chemosignals; however, the importance of this system for the initiation of estrus in meadow voles, a species in which spontaneous estrus has been postulated, is unknown. this experiment was designed to investigate the influence of vno-mediated chemosensory information on behavioral estrus in meadow voles housed in photoperiods simulating summer (long photoperiods; 14l:10d) and winter (short photoperi ...	1994	7803612
ticks (acari: ixodidae) collected from small and medium-sized kansas mammals.	seven species of hard-bodied ticks were collected from 20 species of small and medium-sized mammals in kansas; amblyomma americanum l., dermacentor variabilis (say), haemaphysalis leporispalustris (packard), ixodes cookei packard, i. kingi bishopp, i. sculptus neumann, and i. texanus banks. dermacentor variabilis was found statewide, a. americanum only in the eastern one-third of the state, and the ixodes spp. and h. leporispalustris were widely scattered. the most common tick found was d. varia ...	1994	8057327
patterns of brain vasopressin receptor distribution associated with social organization in microtine rodents.	central vasopressin pathways have been implicated in the mediation of paternal behavior, selective aggression, and affiliation in monogamous prairie voles. here we demonstrate markedly different patterns of brain vasopressin receptor binding in the monogamous prairie vole and the congeneric nonmonogamous (promiscuous) montane vole. vasopressin binding was assessed with both 3h-vasopressin and 125i-sarc-avp using receptor autoradiography. the specificity of binding was consistent with a v1a recep ...	1994	8083743