ACCESS OF COMPOUNDS TO THE VOMERONASAL ORGAN IN PINE AND MEADOW VOLES

Authors

Charles J. Wysocki, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Gary K. Beauchamp, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Susan Erisman, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Date of this Version

February 1980

Comments

Published in Proceedings of the Fourth Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposium, Hendersonville, NC, February 21-22, 1980, Ross E. Byers, editor. Copyright © 1980 Wysocki, Beauchamp, and Erisman.

Abstract

Neuroendocrine responses play a critical role in reproduction in every mammalian species, including voles (Richmond S. Stehn, 1976). Disruption of these normal responses can result in: (1) abnormal sexual maturation; (2) abnormal or absent female cycles; (3) pseudopregnancy; (4) blocked pregnancies; or (5) the total absence of courtship and mating. Each of these factors in turn plays a considerable role in population dynamics, especially population density. Therefore, mechanisms which disrupt normal neuroendocrine function could affect population dynamics and reduce population density by affecting changes in one or many of these reproductive processes.