Elsevier

Animal Behaviour

Volume 21, Issue 2, May 1973, Pages 296-301
Animal Behaviour

Regulation of hormonally mediated maternal nest structure in the mouse (Mus musculus) as a function of neonatal hormone manipulation

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-3472(73)80070-3Get rights and content

Abstract

Nest building in mice was evaluated by amount of hay used daily and type of nest constructed. Increased amounts of hay were utilized and maternal style nests constructed following treatment with appropriate ratios of oestrogen plus progesterone. This response occurred only in the female. Following neonatal injection of testosterone propionate the female no longer showed the maternal nest building response. When males were castrated on day 1, they showed a response to oestrogen and progesterone which was similar to the female response. Thus, the hormonally elicited maternal nest style is sex limited due to early exposure to androgens and therefore resembles sexual responsiveness and the ovulatory mechanism which can similarly be suppressed as a result of the presence of androgen.

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