The Role of Urine in Semiochemical Communication between Females and Males of Domestic Dog (<i>Canis familiaris)</i> during Estrus
This study aimed to assess the mechanisms of semiochemical signal detection in dogs. In the first experiment, five males were exposed to volatile semiochemicals emitted by a live female in estrus and the female’s urine sample collected during estrus. The odor of canine food and clean air were used a...
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/11/2112 |
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| author | Martyna Woszczyło Tadeusz Jezierski Antoni Szumny Wojciech Niżański Michał Dzięcioł |
| author_facet | Martyna Woszczyło Tadeusz Jezierski Antoni Szumny Wojciech Niżański Michał Dzięcioł |
| author_sort | Martyna Woszczyło |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aimed to assess the mechanisms of semiochemical signal detection in dogs. In the first experiment, five males were exposed to volatile semiochemicals emitted by a live female in estrus and the female’s urine sample collected during estrus. The odor of canine food and clean air were used as controls. In the second experiment, 25 males could directly sniff and lick the urine samples from females in estrus, from females in anestrus, from males and from humans, placed in a lineup. Sniffing, licking and salivation, as well as keeping dogs at different distances from the source of odor, were recorded in both experiments. Experiment 1 showed that food odor was sniffed by males longer than estrous urine. Volatile semiochemicals from females in estrus evoked interest in males but without visual cues did not cause overt symptoms of sexual arousal. In Experiment 2, the estrous urine evoked interest in males and provoked significantly longer sniffing. Licking accompanied by salivation was observed in all instances only during direct contact with estrous urine. The results suggest a complex character of detection of female reproductive status, in which both volatile and nonvolatile compounds emitted by females and present in female urine are involved. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:51:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4b0e248777bf4266ae7e37b3061f7b46 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:51:42Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-4b0e248777bf4266ae7e37b3061f7b462023-11-20T20:55:52ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-11-011011211210.3390/ani10112112The Role of Urine in Semiochemical Communication between Females and Males of Domestic Dog (<i>Canis familiaris)</i> during EstrusMartyna Woszczyło0Tadeusz Jezierski1Antoni Szumny2Wojciech Niżański3Michał Dzięcioł4Department of Reproduction, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50-366 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Animal Behavior and Welfare, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, 05-552 Magdalenka, PolandDepartment of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C.K. Norwida 25, 50-375 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Reproduction, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50-366 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Reproduction, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki 49, 50-366 Wrocław, PolandThis study aimed to assess the mechanisms of semiochemical signal detection in dogs. In the first experiment, five males were exposed to volatile semiochemicals emitted by a live female in estrus and the female’s urine sample collected during estrus. The odor of canine food and clean air were used as controls. In the second experiment, 25 males could directly sniff and lick the urine samples from females in estrus, from females in anestrus, from males and from humans, placed in a lineup. Sniffing, licking and salivation, as well as keeping dogs at different distances from the source of odor, were recorded in both experiments. Experiment 1 showed that food odor was sniffed by males longer than estrous urine. Volatile semiochemicals from females in estrus evoked interest in males but without visual cues did not cause overt symptoms of sexual arousal. In Experiment 2, the estrous urine evoked interest in males and provoked significantly longer sniffing. Licking accompanied by salivation was observed in all instances only during direct contact with estrous urine. The results suggest a complex character of detection of female reproductive status, in which both volatile and nonvolatile compounds emitted by females and present in female urine are involved.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/11/2112canine reproductionchemical communicationpheromonesurineVNO |
| spellingShingle | Martyna Woszczyło Tadeusz Jezierski Antoni Szumny Wojciech Niżański Michał Dzięcioł The Role of Urine in Semiochemical Communication between Females and Males of Domestic Dog (<i>Canis familiaris)</i> during Estrus Animals canine reproduction chemical communication pheromones urine VNO |
| title | The Role of Urine in Semiochemical Communication between Females and Males of Domestic Dog (<i>Canis familiaris)</i> during Estrus |
| title_full | The Role of Urine in Semiochemical Communication between Females and Males of Domestic Dog (<i>Canis familiaris)</i> during Estrus |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Urine in Semiochemical Communication between Females and Males of Domestic Dog (<i>Canis familiaris)</i> during Estrus |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Urine in Semiochemical Communication between Females and Males of Domestic Dog (<i>Canis familiaris)</i> during Estrus |
| title_short | The Role of Urine in Semiochemical Communication between Females and Males of Domestic Dog (<i>Canis familiaris)</i> during Estrus |
| title_sort | role of urine in semiochemical communication between females and males of domestic dog i canis familiaris i during estrus |
| topic | canine reproduction chemical communication pheromones urine VNO |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/11/2112 |
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