Abstract
AbstractSubterranean common mole-rats of the genus Fukomys (family Bathyergidae) live in large cooperatively-breeding families. Odor cues have been hypothesized to importantly mediate social behaviors in the underground ecotope, but only little is known about the role of olfactory signaling in burrowing mammals. Here we characterize the so far neglected perioral glands of Fukomys and other African mole-rats as an important source of olfactory social information. Histology demonstrates these structures to be derived sebaceous glands that are developed regardless of sex and reproductive status. However, gland activity is higher in Fukomys males, leading to sexually dimorphic patterns of stain and clotting of the facial pelage. Behavioral assays revealed that conspecifics prefer male but not female perioral swabs over scent samples from the back fur and that male sebum causes similar attraction as anogenital scent, a known source of social information in Fukomys. Finally, we assessed volatile compounds in the perioral sebum of the giant mole-rat (Fukomys mechowii) via GCxGC-MS-based metabolomic profiling. Volatiles displayed pronounced sex-specific signatures but also allowed to differentiate between intrasexual reproductive status groups. These different lines of evidence suggest that mole-rat perioral glands provide complex odor signals that play a crucial role in social communication.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Reference77 articles.
1. (−)-β-caryophyllene, a CB2 receptor-selective phytocannabinoid, suppresses motor paralysis and neuroinflammation in a murine model of multiple sclerosis;International Journal of Molecular Sciences,2017
2. Artifacts and pheromone blends from Nezara spp. and other stink bugs (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae);Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C,1993
3. To mate or not to mate? Mate preference and fidelity in monogamous Ansell’s mole-rats, Fukomys anselli, Bathyergidae;Journal of Vertebrate Biology,2012
4. Forgotten siblings or how the long memory of the eusocial giant mole-rat Cryptomys mechowi (Rodentia: Bathyergidae) serves to maintain incest avoidance;Mammalian Biology,2005
5. Fitting linear mixed-effects models using lme4;Journal of Statistical Software,2015