The Presentation Rate of Chemical Signals of the Domestic Cat Felis catus Affects the Reproductive Status of the House Mouse

Abstract

The effects of the presentation rate of the domestic cat chemical L-felinine (0.05%) on the regulation of the estrous cycle in the house mouse were studied. It has been found that L-felinine has an interspecific effect and affects regulation of the estrous cycle in the house mouse. It has been observed that the effect may be diverse depending upon the mode of exposure to L-felinine. Chronic exposure of mice to the cat chemical signal resulted in an activating effect that significantly increased the ovulation rate within a fixed time interval, whereas regular intermittent exposure to L-felinine caused a significant reduction in the number of cyclic females comparing to the control group, as well as lengthening of the estrous cycle in cycling females. It has also been indicated that repeated exposure to the chemical signal in a regular intermittent mode throughout the experiment did not cause habituation in mice; on the other hand, a similar effect was weaker when exposure to L-felinine was in the spontaneous mode.