| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| three experiments on mate choice in meadow voles (microtus pennsylvanicus). | species differences in selectivity with respect to mate choice have been hypothesized to be related to mating systems. procedures used in 3 previous experiments on monogamous prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) and polygamous montane voles (m. montanus) were used with polygamous meadow voles (m. pennsylvanicus). the expectation was that meadow voles would show few preferences. female meadow voles preferred mating with familiar versus unfamiliar males but displayed no preference for unmated vers ... | 1995 | 7705059 |
| oxytocin and rodent sociosexual responses: from behavior to gene expression. | in most mammals, gonadal steroid hormones are required for the expression of species-typical reproductive behavior. over the past few years it has become evident that neuropeptides, such as oxytocin (ot) and vasopressin (avp), also play a key role in the regulation of both social and sexual behavior. through studies of gonadal steroid/neuropeptide interactions, we have been able to discover species differences in behavioral and physiological responses to ot that may be associated with species-sp ... | 1995 | 7630585 |
| species differences in the vasopressin-immunoreactive pathways in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial amygdaloid nucleus in prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) and meadow voles (microtus pennsylvanicus). | vasopressin-immunoreactive (avp-ir) cells in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (bst) and medial amygdaloid nucleus (ma) and their avp-ir projections to the lateral septum were studied in monogamous prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) and promiscuous meadow voles (m. pennsylvanicus). a sexually dimorphic avp-ir pathway was found in both species; males had more avp-ir cells in the bst and ma, as well as denser avp-ir fibers in the lateral septum, than did females. a significant species diff ... | 1995 | 7619320 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| infection of microtus ochrogaster with piroplasms isolated from man. | | 1970 | 5504524 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| coccidian parasites (apicomplexa) from snakes in the southcentral and southwestern united states: new host and geographic records. | four hundred thirty-five leptotyphlopid, colubrid, elapid, and viperid snakes were collected from various localities in arkansas, new mexico, oklahoma, and texas, and their feces were examined for coccidian parasites. of these, 131 (30%) were passing oocysts or sporocysts of at least 1 coccidian; 88 (67%) of the infected snakes had only 1 species of coccidian when they were examined. aquatic and semiaquatic snakes accounted for 48% of the infections, whereas strictly terrestrial snakes comprised ... | 1995 | 7876980 |
| adrenocorticoid hormones and the development and expression of mammalian monogamy. | based on research with prairie voles, we hypothesize that the unusual patterns of reproduction and social behavior associated with mammalian monogamy may arise as a consequence of normal developmental exposure to high levels of glucocorticoids and/or other hormones of the hpa axis. increased hpa activity could functionally inhibit some of the masculinizing processes expected during the perinatal period. we hypothesize that the unique behavioral, physiological, and anatomical changes associated w ... | 1995 | 8597447 |
| oxytocin and the molecular basis of monogamy. | previous studies in rats have implicated central oxytocin (ot) pathways in the onset of maternal behavior, female sexual receptivity, and the response of the pups to social separation. however, the rat is not ideal for studying effects of ot on attachment as rats fail to form selective, enduring social bonds. to study male-female pair bonds, our laboratory has focused on a microtine rodent, the prairie vole, which is monogamous and highly affiliative. adult prairie voles form pair bonds after ma ... | 1995 | 8713971 |
| isolation of mycoplasmas from prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). | a new species of mycoplasmas was isolated from the lungs and nasopharyngeal washings of prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). clinical signs of disease and microscopic lesions were not observed at the time of this isolation. the organism was cultured in sp4 medium; it grew aerobically, anaerobically, and in 5% co2 in 5 to 7 days, and fermented glucose. transmission electron microscopy revealed the organism to lack a cell wall and to have typical mycoplasmal ultrastructural morphology. the comple ... | 1995 | 8746521 |
| cellular immunity is not compromised by high serum corticosterone concentrations in prairie voles. | glucocorticoids compromise immune function in glucocorticoid-sensitive species (e.g., mice), but these immunosuppressive effects may be reduced in glucocorticoid-resistant species. prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) have been characterized as glucocorticoid-resistant to their high circulating levels of corticosterone. because glucocorticoid-sensitive species display suppressed lymphocyte proliferation in response to elevated blood glucocorticoid levels, proliferative values were hypothesized t ... | 1996 | 8997359 |
| molecular aspects of monogamy. | comparative studies of monogamous and nonmonogamous voles demonstrate species differences in the regional expression of oxytocin (ot) receptors in the brain. these species differences have not been observed with other neurotransmitter receptors (except vasopressin). species differences for ot receptor distribution were also observed in other microtine and murine species selected as monogamous or promiscuous. these chemical neuroanatomic differences appear to be functionally relevant, as treatmen ... | 1997 | 9071359 |
| characterization of adrenal hormone binding sites in the prairie vole. | | 1997 | 9071389 |
| the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis of prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster): evidence for target tissue glucocorticoid resistance. | basal plasma corticosterone levels in prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) are extremely high, in the absence of any apparent negative consequences of glucocorticoid excess. we tested the hypothesis that prairie voles are a novel rodent model of target tissue resistance to glucocorticoids. prairie voles had a significantly higher adrenal-to-body weight ratio, 5- to 10-fold greater basal plasma corticosterone, and 2- to 3-fold greater basal plasma acth concentrations than montane voles (microtus ... | 1997 | 9126465 |
| fos immunoreactivity after exposure to conspecific or heterospecific urine: where are chemosensory cues sorted? | female prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) typically require an intact vomeronasal system and exposure to a chemical signal found in urine from male prairie voles to induce uterine growth necessary for reproduction. urine from male mice (mus musculus) does not contain an effective cue for activation of female vole reproduction: after 4 days of exposure to stimuli, voles exposed to urine from female or water had still uteri whereas voles exposed to urine from male voles had large uteri. the init ... | 1997 | 9284509 |
| social environment and steroid hormones affect species and sex differences in immune function among voles. | testosterone has bipotential effects on male fitness; that is, it both suppresses immune function and maintains characteristics important for reproductive success. presumably, these effects of testosterone may be more pronounced among polygynous species because testosterone concentrations are generally higher among polygynous than monogamous males. the present study examined sex and species differences in cell-mediated immunity among four arvicoline rodents. the role of mating system and sex ste ... | 1997 | 9344689 |
| sexual differentiation in prairie voles: the effects of corticosterone and testosterone. | prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) exhibit low levels of physical sexual dimorphism and have endogenous basal corticosterone levels that are 5-10 times higher than those measured in rats; prairie voles also do not show a postnatal period of adrenal hyporesponsivity. on the basis of studies in rats suggesting that adrenal hyperactivity during the perinatal period could reduce masculinization or feminize sexual behavior, we hypothesized that adrenal hormones might influence sexual differentiatio ... | 1997 | 9383128 |
| 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 |
| stress affects corticosteroid and immunoglobulin concentrations in male house mice (mus musculus) and prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). | glucocorticoids, secreted in response to perceived stress, can suppress immunoglobulin (ig) levels and compromise immune function in mice and rats. prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) have been reported to exhibit basal corticosterone concentrations that would cause pathological changes in the immune function of most other rodents. the goals of the present study were to verify that serum corticosterone concentrations are high in prairie voles, as compared with house mice (mus musculus), by meas ... | 1997 | 9406441 |
| the sequence of giardia small subunit rrna shows that voles and muskrats are parasitized by a unique species giardia microti. | the small subunit ribosomal rna (eukaryotic 16s rrna) gene from giardia trophozoites, isolated from 8 different prairie voles and 8 different muskrats, was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. the 16s rdna was sequenced in its entirety for 2 prairie vole and 2 muskrat giardia. in addition, the 5' 500 nucleotides of the 16s rdna from giardia isolates from each of 6 voles and 6 muskrats were amplified and sequenced. the results show that giardia from voles and muskrats are very similar to e ... | 1998 | 9576501 |
| neurobiological perspectives on social phobia: from affiliation to zoology. | social phobia (or "social anxiety disorder") is a prevalent condition that has been the subject of increased scrutiny in recent years. the purpose of this paper is to review the neurobiology of social phobia. it is apparent from the extant literature that this disorder is poorly understood from a neurobiological perspective. there are nonetheless a number of clinical and preclinical observations which, at times, converge to illuminate areas worthy of further study. included in this category are ... | 1998 | 9861470 |
| cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase in humans, mice, and voles and phylogenetic analysis of the enzyme family. | in this study, we report cdna sequences of the cytosolic nadp-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase for humans, mice, and two species of voles (microtus mexicanus and microtus ochrogaster). inferred amino acid sequences from these taxa display a high level of amino acid sequence conservation, comparable to that of myosin beta heavy chain, and share known structural features. a caenorhabditis elegans enzyme that was previously identified as a protein similar to isocitrate dehydrogenase is most likel ... | 1998 | 9866202 |
| anatomy and function of extrahypothalamic vasopressin systems in the brain. | the most prominent sites of vasopressin (vp) production in the rat brain are the paraventricular nucleus, the supraoptic nucleus, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (bst), and the medial amygdaloid nucleus (ma). recently a number of new sites have been suggested, including the hippocampus, the diagonal band of broca, and the choroid plexus. this chapter shows how differential regulation of these vp systems can be exploited to identify the contributions of indivi ... | 1998 | 10074777 |
| social interactions unmask sex differences in humoral immunity in voles. | sex differences in immune function are well established among laboratory rodents, with males typically having lower immunity than females. this sex difference may reflect the suppressive effects of testosterone on immune function. because polygynous males generally have higher circulating testosterone concentrations than monogamous males, sex differences in immune function are hypothesized to be more pronounced among polygynous as compared to monogamous species. sex differences in immune functio ... | 1999 | 10196049 |
| photoperiod affects the gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal system of male prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). | in order to maximize survival, animals inhabiting temperate and boreal latitudes exhibit numerous adaptations to changing seasons. central among this suite of coping strategies is the cessation of breeding during the suboptimal conditions of winter. many nontropical rodents inhibit reproduction well in advance of winter in response to short day lengths. male prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) are small temperate-zone rodents that vary in their reproductive response to photoperiod. some male vo ... | 1999 | 10207275 |
| comparison of the parental behavior of pair-bonded female and male prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). | the behavior of primiparous lactating prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) and their mates individually interacting with pups was continuously assessed for 45 min after a 2-h parent-litter separation on days 3-4 and 10-11 postpartum. both sexes were highly parental after reunion with the young, and their general pattern of behavior consisted of bouts of quiescence interspersed with bursts of heightened activity. lactating females spent more time than males in contact with pups, and more time bei ... | 1999 | 10222470 |
| forebrain connections of medial agranular cortex in the prairie vole, microtus ochrogaster. | fluorescent axonal tracers were used to investigate the connections of medial agranular cortex (frontal area 2, fr2) in male prairie voles. the rostral and caudal portions of fr2 (rfr2 and cfr2) have distinct but partially overlapping patterns of connections. thalamic labeling after cfr2 injections was present in anteromedial nucleus (am), ventrolateral nucleus (vl), lateral segment, mediodorsal nucleus (mdl), centrolateral nucleus (cl), ventromedial nucleus (vm), posterior nucleus (po) and late ... | 1999 | 10382619 |
| activation of the immune-endocrine system with lipopolysaccharide reduces affiliative behaviors in voles. | in experiment 1, individually housed male meadow voles (microtus pennsylvanicus) and prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) were injected with lipopolysaccharide (lps) and exhibited the expected decrease in testosterone and increase in corticosterone and interleukin-1beta concentrations 3 hr later, indicating activation of the endocrine and immune systems. in experiment 2, lps- and saline-injected males were tethered in a 3-chamber partner preference apparatus. the time females spent in each chamb ... | 1999 | 10571486 |
| elevated fos-like immunoreactivity in the brains of postpartum female prairie voles, microtus ochrogaster. | this study investigated the expression of the protein product of the immediate early gene c-fos in the brains of female prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) in association with pregnancy and postparturient activities including maternal behavior, lactation and postpartum estrus. fos expression was assessed in female voles that were late in pregnancy, nonpregnant or at one of three different times postpartum (0-8, 12-24, and 24-48 h, respectively). a significant increase in the number of cells dis ... | 1999 | 10639733 |
| hypothalamic vasopressin gene expression increases in both males and females postpartum in a biparental rodent. | in previous studies, the closely related neuropeptide hormones oxytocin and vasopressin have been implicated in the central mediation of parental behaviour. several studies in rats and sheep have demonstrated a role for oxytocin in the initiation of maternal behaviour. recently, a few studies in a biparental species, the prairie vole (microxytocinus ochrogaster) have suggested that vasopressin is important for paternal care. the present study investigated this latter possibility by measuring cha ... | 2000 | 10718906 |
| photoperiod and temperature interact to affect the gnrh neuronal system of male prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). | individuals of numerous species limit energy expenditure during winter by inhibiting reproduction and other nonessential functions. to time these adaptations appropriately with the annual cycle, animals rely on environmental cues that predict, well in advance, the onset of winter. the most commonly studied environmental factor that animals use to time reproduction is photoperiod. rodents housed in short photoperiods in the laboratory or in naturally declining day lengths exhibit pronounced alter ... | 2000 | 10942262 |
| comparative morphology and histochemistry of glands associated with the vomeronasal organ in humans, mouse lemurs, and voles. | the vomeronasal organ (vno) is a chemosensory structure of the vertebrate nasal septum that has been recently shown to exist in nearly all adult humans. although its link to reproductive behaviors has been shown in some primates, its functionality in humans is still debated. some authors have suggested that the human vno has the capacity to detect pheromones, while others described it as little more than a glandular pit. however, no studies have utilized histochemical techniques that would revea ... | 2000 | 10967540 |
| babesia microti and borrelia bissettii transmission by ixodes spinipalpis ticks among prairie voles, microtus ochrogaster, in colorado. | an endemic transmission cycle of babesia microti was discovered in colorado in the foothills of the rocky mountains. b. microti were found by pcr in 4 of 25 ixodes spinipalpis tick pools tested (a 3.2 % minimum infection rate) and in 87% (13 of 15) of microtus ochrogaster (the prairie vole) spleen and blood samples. using naturally infected i. spinipalpis collected from wild-caught m. ochrogaster as vectors, b. microti and borrelia bissettii were successfully transmitted to laboratory-born m. oc ... | 2000 | 11155930 |
| expression and estrogen regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene and protein in the forebrain of female prairie voles. | brain-derived neurotrophic factor (bdnf) has been linked to the development, differentiation, and plasticity of the central nervous system. in the present study, we first used a highly specific affinity-purified antibody and a crna probe to generate a detailed mapping of bdnf immunoreactive (bdnf-ir) staining and mrna labeling throughout the forebrain of female prairie voles. our data revealed that (1) bdnf-ir cells were present essentially in the brain regions in which bdnf mrna-labeled cells w ... | 2001 | 11304714 |
| mycoplasma microti sp. nov., isolated from the respiratory tract of prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). | mycoplasmas were isolated from the respiratory tracts of prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). this paper presents biochemical, serological and molecular genetic characterizations of those organisms and proposes a new species, mycoplasma microti sp. nov. the type strain of mycoplasma microti is strain il371t (atcc 700935t). | 2001 | 11321086 |
| effects of field exposure to diazinon on small mammals inhabiting a semienclosed prairie grassland ecosystem. i. ecological and reproductive effects. | the widespread use of cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides in the environment presents increasing concerns about their effects on human, wildlife, and ecosystem health. as a group, these pesticides are generally highly toxic and have great potential for negatively affecting nontarget organisms. small mammals have proven to be ideal biomonitors of environmental contaminants, and were used here to test for possible effects of a widely used cholinesterase-inhibiting insecticide, diazinon, in a natu ... | 2001 | 11351428 |
| central vasopressin administration regulates the onset of facultative paternal behavior in microtus pennsylvanicus (meadow voles). | pharmacological experiments have implicated a role for central arginine vasopressin (avp) in regulating paternal behavior in monogamous prairie voles. although nonmonogamous meadow voles exhibit appreciable paternal care when housed under winter, short day lengths (sd), no research has examined whether the same neurobiological systems are involved in regulating paternal behavior in a nonmonogamous species when it behaves paternally. the goal of these experiments was to determine whether central ... | 2001 | 11374914 |
| experimental infection of nontarget species of rodents and birds with brucella abortus strain rb51 vaccine. | the brucella abortus vaccine strain rb51 (srb51) is being considered for use in the management of bnucellosis in wild bison (bison bison) and elk (cervus elaphus) populations in the greater yellowstone area (usa). evaluation of the vaccines safety in non-target species was considered necessary prior to field use. between june 1998 and december 1999, ground squirrels (spermophilus richardsonii, n = 21), deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus, n = 14), prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster, n = 21), and ... | 2001 | 11504226 |
| facilitation of affiliation and pair-bond formation by vasopressin receptor gene transfer into the ventral forebrain of a monogamous vole. | behaviors associated with monogamy, including pair-bond formation, are facilitated by the neuropeptide vasopressin and are prevented by a vasopressin receptor [v1a receptor (v1ar)] antagonist in the male prairie vole. the neuroanatomical distribution of v1ar dramatically differs between monogamous and nonmonogamous species. v1ar binding is denser in the ventral pallidal region of several unrelated monogamous species compared with nonmonogamous species. because the ventral pallidum is involved in ... | 2001 | 11549749 |
| exposure to short days, but not short-term melatonin, enhances humoral immunity of male syrian hamsters (mesocricetus auratus). | many non-tropical rodent species rely on photoperiod as the primary cue to co-ordinate seasonally appropriate changes in physiology and behavior. among these seasonal changes, several rodent species (e.g. deer mice, prairie voles, siberian hamsters) adjust immune function in response to changes in ambient day lengths. the goals of the present study were to examine the effects of photoperiod on immune function of syrian hamsters (mesocricetus auratus), and to determine the role of melatonin in me ... | 2002 | 12153446 |
| effects of dopamine receptor antagonism with haloperidol on nurturing behavior in the biparental prairie vole. | dopamine (da) receptor activity in lactating rats is critical for retrieval and licking of pups, whereas its inactivity facilitates quiescent nursing. the role of da in the maternal behavior of other species and its role in paternal behavior are unknown. this experiment examined the effects of the da antagonist haloperidol (hal) on parental behavior in the biparental prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster). three days after birth of pups, parental behavior of male and female voles was observed for 3 ... | 2002 | 12376148 |
| differential effects of intraspecific interactions on the striatal dopamine system in social and non-social voles. | we used in vivo microdialysis to examine the responses to intraspecific social interactions in the striatal dopamine systems of females of two vole species displaying vastly different social structures. both highly social prairie voles and asocial meadow voles had similar increases in extracellular dopamine associated with mating. there was a species-specific effect of social condition on extracellular dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (dopac). exposure to a conspecific male significantly decreased ext ... | 2003 | 12732259 |
| pathogenicity of mycoplasma volis in mice and rats. | a new species of mycoplasma, m. volis, was isolated from the respiratory tract of clinically normal field-trapped prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) that were to be housed in close proximity to other rodents. to determine the pathogenic potential of the new mycoplasmal isolate, three groups of rodents (sprague dawley rats, balb/c mice, and severe combined immunodeficient [scid] mice) were intranasally inoculated with 2 x 10(8) color-changing units (ccu) of m. volis and were observed for 4 to 6 ... | 1998 | 9517888 |
| brain mast cells are influenced by chemosensory cues associated with estrus induction in female prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). | historically, the brain has been viewed as protected from the infiltration of peripheral hematopoietic cells by the blood-brain barrier. however, numerous immune cell types have been found in the central nervous system (cns). mast cells, granulocytic immune cells, are found in the cns of birds and mammals and their numbers and location are influenced by both extrinsic and intrinsic factors, including reproductive behavior and endocrine status. the present study used female prairie voles (microtu ... | 2003 | 14644631 |
| size of the vomeronasal organ in wild microtus with different mating strategies. | most studies on mammalian vomeronasal organ (vno) have been on laboratory-bred animals. our present study examines the vno in wild-caught meadow voles (microtus pennsylvanicus: n=16) and prairie voles (m. ochrogaster: n=15). these species vary in their mating strategies and degree of parental care by males. m. ochrogaster exhibits pair bonding and more paternal care compared to m. pennsylvanicus, a promiscuous species. we hypothesize that sexual dimorphism will occur in the promiscuous species b ... | 2003 | 14711031 |
| the prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster): an animal model for behavioral neuroendocrine research on pair bonding. | pair bond formation has been investigated much less than many other social behaviors, perhaps in part because traditional laboratory mice and rats do not exhibit this behavior. however, pair bonding is common among monogamous animals such as the prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster). in this review, we discuss how the prairie vole has been used as a model system to investigate the neurobiology of pair bonding. descriptions include neuroanatomical differences between monogamous and non-monogamous v ... | 2004 | 14752206 |
| pharmacological characterization of central and peripheral type i and type ii adrenal steroid receptors in the prairie vole, a glucocorticoid-resistant rodent. | the prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster) has recently been shown to be glucocorticoid resistant; that is, the prairie vole adrenal axis is refractory to dexamethasone challenge, and highly elevated basal corticosterone titers occur without apparent pathophysiology. this study investigates the physiological correlates of glucocorticoid resistance in the prairie vole. we provide a detailed pharmacological characterization of intracellular type i and type ii adrenal steroid receptors in peripheral t ... | 1999 | 10499499 |
| role of steroid hormones in trichinella spiralis infection among voles. | males are generally more susceptible to parasite infection than females. this sex difference may reflect the suppressive effects of testosterone and enhancing effects of estradiol on immune function. this study characterized the role of circulating steroid hormones in sex differences after infection with the nematode trichinella spiralis. because testosterone suppresses immune function and because polygynous males have higher circulating testosterone concentrations than monogamous males, sex dif ... | 1999 | 10564208 |
| neuropeptides and the social brain: potential rodent models of autism. | conducting basic scientific research on a complex psychiatric disorder, such as autism, is a challenging prospect. it is difficult to dissociate the fundamental neurological and psychological processes that are disturbed in autism and, therefore, it is a challenge to discover accurate and reliable animal models of the disease. because of their role in animal models of social processing and social bonding, the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin are strong candidates for dysregulation in autis ... | 2005 | 15749248 |
| effects of perchlorate exposure on resting metabolism, peak metabolism, and thyroid function in the prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster). | perchlorate, the oxidizer component in most solid rocket propellant formulations, is known to inhibit the uptake of iodide into the thyroid gland, thereby reducing production of the thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine and thyroxine (t4). thyroid hormones regulate metabolism in endothermic organisms and are responsible for maintenance of homeothermic body temperatures. little is known about the effects of perchlorate on metabolic capacity. the objectives of the present study were to determine if s ... | 2005 | 15779769 |
| neonatal oxytocin alters subsequent estrogen receptor alpha protein expression and estrogen sensitivity in the female rat. | in most species, the effects of oxytocin (ot) on female reproductive behavior are dependent upon estrogen, which increases both ot and ot receptor expression. it is also becoming apparent that ot neurotransmission can influence estrogen signaling, especially during development, as neonatal ot manipulations in prairie voles alter eralpha expression and estrogen-dependent behaviors. we tested the hypothesis that ot developmentally programs eralpha expression and estrogen sensitivity in female spra ... | 2009 | 19703497 |
| species and sex differences in brain distribution of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor subtypes 1 and 2 in monogamous and promiscuous vole species. | corticotropin-releasing factor (crf) receptor subtypes 1 and 2 have been implicated in rodent models of anxiety, but much less is known about the crf system and social behavior. both corticosterone and central crf receptors modulate pair bonding in the monogamous prairie vole. using receptor autoradiography, we mapped crfr(1) and crfr(2) in the brains of two monogamous vole species, the prairie vole and pine vole, and two promiscuous vole species, the meadow vole and montane vole. we found marke ... | 2005 | 15861459 |
| tyrosine hydroxylase-synthesizing cells in the hypothalamus of prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster): sex differences in the anteroventral periventricular preoptic area and effects of adult gonadectomy or neonatal gonadal hormones. | the vertebrate hypothalamus and surrounding region contain a large population of cells expressing tyrosine hydroxylase (th), the rate limiting enzyme for synthesis of dopamine and other catecholamines. some of these populations are sexually dimorphic in rats. we here examined sex differences in th-immunoreactive populations in the forebrain of gonadally intact and gonadectomized prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster), a species that sometimes shows unusual sexual differentiation of brain and behav ... | 2006 | 16329116 |
| 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 |
| biological contribution to social influences on alcohol drinking: evidence from animal models. | social factors have a tremendous influence on instances of heavy drinking and in turn impact public health. however, it is extremely difficult to assess whether this influence is only a cultural phenomenon or has biological underpinnings. research in non-human primates demonstrates that the way individuals are brought up during early development affects their future predisposition for heavy drinking, and research in rats demonstrates that social isolation, crowding or low social ranking can lead ... | 2010 | 20616986 |
| thyroid function and reproductive success in rodents exposed to perchlorate via food and water. | the purpose of the present study was to determine if exposure to perchlorate via food items would have effects on mammals similar to those caused by exposure through drinking water at approximately equivalent doses. prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) and deer mice (peromyscus maniculatus) were used to assess the potential toxicity of perchlorate-contaminated food items. voles and mice were divided randomly into three treatment groups--perchlorate-contaminated food (pcf), perchlorate-contaminat ... | 2006 | 16629144 |
| sex and species differences in tyrosine hydroxylase-synthesizing cells of the rodent olfactory extended amygdala. | the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (bst) and the medial amygdala (mea) are anatomically connected sites necessary for chemosensory regulation of social behaviors in rodents. prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) are a valuable model for studying the neural regulation of social behaviors because, unlike many other rodents, they are gregarious, pair bond after copulating, and are biparental. we herein describe sex and species differences in immunoreactivity for tyrosine hydroxylase (th), the r ... | 2007 | 17099901 |
| oxytocin, vasopressin and pair bonding: implications for autism. | understanding the neurobiological substrates regulating normal social behaviours may provide valuable insights in human behaviour, including developmental disorders such as autism that are characterized by pervasive deficits in social behaviour. here, we review the literature which suggests that the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin play critical roles in modulating social behaviours, with a focus on their role in the regulation of social bonding in monogamous rodents. oxytocin and vasopres ... | 2006 | 17118932 |
| paternal care in rodents: weakening support for hormonal regulation of the transition to behavioral fatherhood in rodent animal models of biparental care. | male rodents that are naturally paternal, like all females, must inhibit infanticide and activate direct parental behavior as they become parents. males, however, alter their behavior in the absence of parturition, postpartum ovulation and lactation, and therefore do not experience the hormone dynamics associated with such conditions. paternal males might nevertheless use the same hormones to activate pre-existing maternal behavior pathways in the brain. positive and inverse associations between ... | 2007 | 17482188 |
| density-dependent recruitment in grassland small mammals. | 1. density dependence has an important influence on the dynamics of many species of small mammals. to regulate population growth, density must affect negatively a vital rate (e.g. fecundity); however, little is known about which vital rates are most affected by density. 2. we used a long-term data set for five species of rodents from north-eastern kansas, usa to test for relationships between density and the proportion of pregnant females, per capita fecundity and recruitment. we estimated propo ... | 2008 | 18039321 |
| the neurobiology of social attachment: a comparative approach to behavioral, neuroanatomical, and neurochemical studies. | the formation and maintenance of social bonds in adulthood is an essential component of human health. however studies investigating the underlying neurobiology of such behaviors have been scarce. microtine rodents offer a unique comparative animal model to explore the neural processes responsible for pair bonding and its associated behaviors. studies using monogamous prairie voles and other related species have recently offered insight into the neuroanatomical, neurobiological, and neurochemical ... | 2008 | 18417423 |
| brain oxytocin: a key regulator of emotional and social behaviours in both females and males. | in addition to various reproductive stimuli, the neuropeptide oxytocin (oxt) is released both from the neurohypophysial terminal into the blood stream and within distinct brain regions in response to stressful or social stimuli. brain oxt receptor-mediated actions were shown to be significantly involved in the regulation of a variety of behaviours. here, complementary methodological approaches are discussed which were utilised to reveal, for example, anxiolytic and anti-stress effects of oxt, bo ... | 2008 | 18601710 |
| further evidence for the role of nitric oxide in maternal aggression: effects of l-name on maternal aggression towards female intruders in wistar rats. | it has been shown that nitric oxide (no) increases aggression in male mice, whereas it decreases aggression in lactating female mice and prairie voles. it is also known that aggression can be exhibited at different levels in rodent species, strain or subtypes. the aims of this study were to investigate the proportion of aggressiveness in wistar rats, the effect of intraperitoneally administered nonspecific nitric oxide synthase (nos) inhibitor l-name (ng-nitro l-arginine methyl ester) on materna ... | 2009 | 18657004 |
| mechanisms underlying altered mood and cardiovascular dysfunction: the value of neurobiological and behavioral research with animal models. | a bidirectional association between mood disorders and cardiovascular diseases has been described in humans, yet the precise neurobiological mechanisms that underlie this association are not fully understood. this article is focused on neurobiological processes and mediators in mood and cardiovascular disorders, with an emphasis on common mechanisms including stressor reactivity, neuroendocrine and neurohumoral changes, immune alterations, autonomic and cardiovascular dysregulation, and central ... | 2009 | 18703084 |
| adaptive immune responses are linked to the mating system of arvicoline rodents. | males generally exhibit reduced immune responses and greater susceptibility to disease than females. the suppressive effect of testosterone on immune function is hypothesized to be one reason why males have lower immune responses than females. presumably, this effect of testosterone should be more pronounced among polygynous than monogamous species because circulating testosterone is higher among polygynous than monogamous males. the present study examined the extent to which sex differences in ... | 1998 | 18811424 |
| estrogen receptors in the medial amygdala inhibit the expression of male prosocial behavior. | studies using estrogen receptor alpha (eralpha) knock-out mice indicate that eralpha masculinizes male behavior. recent studies of eralpha and male prosocial behavior have shown an inverse relationship between eralpha expression in regions of the brain that regulate social behavior, including the medial amygdala (mea), and the expression of male prosocial behavior. these studies have lead to the hypothesis that low levels of eralpha are necessary to "permit" the expression of high levels of male ... | 2008 | 18842899 |
| 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 |
| individual discrimination by odors in sibling prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). | the habituation-discrimination paradigm has been used widely to demonstrate that animals can detect individually distinctive odors of unfamiliar conspecifics. by using a modification of the habituation-discrimination technique, todrank et al. (anim behav 55:377-386, 1998) found that golden hamsters discriminate between the individual odors of their own familiar brothers but cannot discriminate between the odors of two siblings that are unrelated and unfamiliar to the subject. this suggested that ... | 2009 | 19373513 |
| viral vector-mediated gene transfer of the vole v1a vasopressin receptor in the rat septum: improved social discrimination and active social behaviour. | this study explores the effects of enhancing vasopressin v1a receptor expression in the septum using viral vector-mediated gene transfer on social discrimination and social interactions. bilateral infusion of an adeno-associated viral vector containing the prairie vole v1a receptor gene (v1ar-aav) regulated by a neuron-specific enolase promoter resulted in a stable increase in v1a receptor binding density in the rat septum without affecting oxytocin receptor density. control animals were infused ... | 2003 | 12887422 |
| vole retina is a target for gonadotropin-releasing hormone. | gonadotropin-releasing hormone (gnrh) projections from the terminal nerve to the retina are common in fish, but have not been reported in mammals. however, gnrh fibers have been seen previously in the optic nerves (but not retinas) of rats and monkeys. using prairie voles, we tested the hypotheses that (1) gnrh-immunoreactive (-ir) neurons project into the optic nerve and (2) the retina expresses gnrh receptor mrna as determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rt-pcr) combine ... | 2002 | 12231246 |
| zanthoxylum piperitum (dc), a potential feeding deterrent for mammals: studies with microtus ochrogaster (wagner). | total extract from the fruit of szechuan pepper (zanthoxylum piperitum dc), the volatile components of the extract and a non-volatile fraction containing alkylamides (nva fraction) are feeding deterrents for rats. the present study investigated the effectiveness of these natural repellents in prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster wagner). two-choice feeding trials were conducted during which food-deprived voles were offered choices between oat-bran wafers. in experiment 1, 10 voles were given thre ... | 2004 | 15260291 |
| unexpected effects of perinatal gonadal hormone manipulations on sexual differentiation of the extrahypothalamic arginine-vasopressin system in prairie voles. | the sexually dimorphic extrahypothalamic arginine-vasopressin (avp) projections from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis to the lateral septum (ls) and lateral habenula (lhb) are denser in males than females and, in rats, require males' perinatal exposure to gonadal hormones but the absence of such exposure in females. we examined perinatal hormone effects on development of this sex difference in prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster), which show atypical effects of hormones on sexual differen ... | 2004 | 15591140 |
| production of germline transgenic prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster) using lentiviral vectors. | the study of alternative model organisms has yielded tremendous insights into the regulation of behavioral and physiological traits not displayed by more widely used animal models, such as laboratory rats and mice. in particular, comparative approaches often exploit species ideally suited for investigating specific phenomenon. for instance, comparative studies of socially monogamous prairie voles and polygamous meadow voles have been instrumental toward gaining an understanding of the genetic an ... | 2009 | 19641177 |
| accurate transposable element annotation is vital when analyzing new genome assemblies. | transposable elements (tes) are mobile genetic elements with the ability to replicate themselves throughout the host genome. in some taxa tes reach copy numbers in hundreds of thousands and can occupy more than half of the genome. the increasing number of reference genomes from nonmodel species has begun to outpace efforts to identify and annotate te content and methods that are used vary significantly between projects. here, we demonstrate variation that arises in te annotations when less than ... | 2016 | 26802115 |
| monogamy evolves through multiple mechanisms: evidence from v1ar in deer mice. | genetic variation in avpr1a, the locus encoding the arginine vasopressin receptor 1a (v1ar), has been implicated in pair-bonding behavior in voles (genus microtus) and humans, raising the possibility that this gene may contribute commonly to mating-system variation in mammals. in voles, differential expression of v1ar in the brain is associated with male partner-preference behavior in a comparison of a monogamous (microtus ochrogaster) and promiscuous (microtus montanus) species. this expression ... | 2010 | 20097658 |
| development of genomic resources for the prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster): construction of a bac library and vole-mouse comparative cytogenetic map. | the prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster) is a premier animal model for understanding the genetic and neurological basis of social behaviors. unlike other biomedical models, prairie voles display a rich repertoire of social behaviors including the formation of long-term pair bonds and biparental care. however, due to a lack of genomic resources for this species, studies have been limited to a handful of candidate genes. to provide a substrate for future development of genomic resources for this un ... | 2010 | 20109198 |
| cardiac dysfunction and hypothalamic activation during a social crowding stressor in prairie voles. | negative social interactions produce several detrimental consequences in humans and non-human animals; and conversely, positive social interactions may have stress-buffering effects on both behavior and physiology. however, the mechanisms underlying specific stressor-responsiveness in the context of the social environment are not well understood. the present study investigated the integration of behavior, cardiac function, and fos-immunoreactivity in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus duri ... | 2010 | 20347401 |
| the neurobiology of pair bonding: insights from a socially monogamous rodent. | the formation of enduring relationships between adult mates (i.e., pair bonds) is an integral aspect of human social behavior and has been implicated in both physical and psychological health. however, due to the inherent complexity of these bonds and the relative rarity with which they are formed in other mammalian species, we know surprisingly little about their underlying neurobiology. over the past few decades, the prairie vole (microtus ochrogaster) has emerged as an animal model of pair bo ... | 2011 | 20688099 |
| parental division of labor, coordination, and the effects of family structure on parenting in monogamous prairie voles (microtus ochrogaster). | family relationships help shape species-typical social and emotional development, but our understanding of how this shaping occurs is still relatively limited. prairie voles are a socially monogamous and biparental species that is well situated to complement traditional animal models, such as rats and mice, in investigating the effects of family experience. in this series of studies, we aimed to test hypotheses relating to how prairie vole families function under undisturbed, standard laboratory ... | 2010 | 20945408 |
| response of two prairie forbs to repeated vole herbivory. | vertebrate herbivores as diverse as ungulates, geese, and rabbits preferentially feed on plants that have previously experienced herbivory. here, we ask whether smaller grassland "cryptic consumers" such as voles (microtus ochrogaster and m. pennsylvanicus) preferentially clip (cut stems for access to leaves or seeds) or avoid previously clipped individuals of two tallgrass prairie species (desmanthus illinoensis and echinacea purpurea) within a growing season. further, we ask how these plants r ... | 2010 | 21053022 |
| distribution of catecholaminergic and peptidergic cells in the gerbil medial amygdala, caudal preoptic area and caudal bed nuclei of the stria terminalis with a focus on areas activated at ejaculation. | the posterodorsal preoptic nucleus (pdpn), lateral part of the posterodorsal medial amygdala (meapd) and medial part of the medial preoptic nucleus (mpnm) are activated at ejaculation in male gerbils as assessed by fos expression. we sought to immunocytochemically visualize substance p (sp), cholecystokinin (cck), oxytocin, vasopressin and tyrosine hydroxylase (th), a catecholaminergic marker, in the mating-activated cells, but the need for colchicine precluded behavioral testing. instead, we de ... | 2010 | 21087661 |
| oxytocin changes primate paternal tolerance to offspring in food transfer. | oxytocin facilitates social recognition in rats and mice, onset of maternal behavior in virgin mice and formation of pair bonds without copulation in prairie voles. however, the relationship between this peptide and paternal behavior in primates remains largely unknown. we investigated whether oxytocin affects paternal behavior in common marmosets. in these primates, fathers as well as mothers take care of their infants, and transferring food to the infants is one of their more obvious caretakin ... | 2011 | 21225271 |