Chemical Triggering of Reproduction in Microtus montanus

In a replicated experiment, nonbreeding winter populations of Microtus montanus were given supplements of rolled oats coated with 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone, a naturally occurring plant derivative. After 3 weeks of this feeding regime, samples from the populations demonstrated a high incidence of preg...

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Published inScience (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 214; no. 4516; pp. 69 - 70
Main Authors Berger, Patricia J., Negus, Norman C., Sanders, Edward H., Gardner, Pete D.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States The American Association for the Advancement Science 02.10.1981
American Association for the Advancement of Science
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Summary:In a replicated experiment, nonbreeding winter populations of Microtus montanus were given supplements of rolled oats coated with 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone, a naturally occurring plant derivative. After 3 weeks of this feeding regime, samples from the populations demonstrated a high incidence of pregnancy in females and testicular hypertrophy in males. Control populations receiving rolled oats coated only with the solvent showed no reproductive activity. These results demonstrate that the presence of 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone in the plant food resource acts as the ultimate cue to trigger reproductive effort in Microtus montanus.
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ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.7025210