The influence of urinary chemosignals on mice behavior in the tube test

Abstract

Many animal species form dominance hierarchies, and one of the ways of maintaining them is individual recognition. Mice recognize each other and individual social status via olfactory urinary signaling. We tested if familiarity with urine scent alters mice behavior when competing in the Tube test.

Subordinate mice, who were familiar with the scent of a dominant individual applied on their opponents, lose more than subordinates not familiar with the scent of the same dominant applied on their opponents. Moreover, these familiar with dominant's odor mice withdrew more often than the unfamiliar with dominant's odor mice.

The results obtained show that 1) mice use individual recognition during the competition in the Tube test, 2) like in other species, social hierarchy in mice can be maintained with the withdrawal of subordinates.