Sharing an environment with sick conspecifics alters odors of healthy animals
Abstract Body odors change with health status and the odors of sick animals can induce avoidance behaviors in healthy conspecifics. Exposure to sickness odors might also alter the physiology of healthy conspecifics and modify the odors they produce. We hypothesized that exposure to odors of sick (bu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2018-09-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32619-4 |
| _version_ | 1818345960225374208 |
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| author | Stephanie S. Gervasi Maryanne Opiekun Talia Martin Gary K. Beauchamp Bruce A. Kimball |
| author_facet | Stephanie S. Gervasi Maryanne Opiekun Talia Martin Gary K. Beauchamp Bruce A. Kimball |
| author_sort | Stephanie S. Gervasi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Body odors change with health status and the odors of sick animals can induce avoidance behaviors in healthy conspecifics. Exposure to sickness odors might also alter the physiology of healthy conspecifics and modify the odors they produce. We hypothesized that exposure to odors of sick (but non-infectious) animals would alter the odors of healthy cagemates. To induce sickness, we injected mice with a bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide. We used behavioral odor discrimination assays and analytical chemistry techniques followed by predictive classification modeling to ask about differences in volatile odorants produced by two types of healthy mice: those cohoused with healthy conspecifics and those cohoused with sick conspecifics. Mice trained in Y-maze behavioral assays to discriminate between the odors of healthy versus sick mice also discriminated between the odors of healthy mice cohoused with sick conspecifics and odors of healthy mice cohoused with healthy conspecifics. Chemical analyses paired with statistical modeling revealed a parallel phenomenon. Urine volatiles of healthy mice cohoused with sick partners were more likely to be classified as those of sick rather than healthy mice based on discriminant model predictions. Sickness-related odors could have cascading effects on neuroendocrine or immune responses of healthy conspecifics, and could affect individual behaviors, social dynamics, and pathogen spread. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T17:10:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d615abe8a0bb4914aaec4b8a40279539 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T17:10:40Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-d615abe8a0bb4914aaec4b8a402795392022-12-21T23:37:35ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222018-09-018111310.1038/s41598-018-32619-4Sharing an environment with sick conspecifics alters odors of healthy animalsStephanie S. Gervasi0Maryanne Opiekun1Talia Martin2Gary K. Beauchamp3Bruce A. Kimball4Monell Chemical Senses CenterMonell Chemical Senses CenterMonell Chemical Senses CenterMonell Chemical Senses CenterMonell Chemical Senses CenterAbstract Body odors change with health status and the odors of sick animals can induce avoidance behaviors in healthy conspecifics. Exposure to sickness odors might also alter the physiology of healthy conspecifics and modify the odors they produce. We hypothesized that exposure to odors of sick (but non-infectious) animals would alter the odors of healthy cagemates. To induce sickness, we injected mice with a bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide. We used behavioral odor discrimination assays and analytical chemistry techniques followed by predictive classification modeling to ask about differences in volatile odorants produced by two types of healthy mice: those cohoused with healthy conspecifics and those cohoused with sick conspecifics. Mice trained in Y-maze behavioral assays to discriminate between the odors of healthy versus sick mice also discriminated between the odors of healthy mice cohoused with sick conspecifics and odors of healthy mice cohoused with healthy conspecifics. Chemical analyses paired with statistical modeling revealed a parallel phenomenon. Urine volatiles of healthy mice cohoused with sick partners were more likely to be classified as those of sick rather than healthy mice based on discriminant model predictions. Sickness-related odors could have cascading effects on neuroendocrine or immune responses of healthy conspecifics, and could affect individual behaviors, social dynamics, and pathogen spread.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32619-4Healthy ConspecificsUrinary VolatilesSick MiceUrine DonorsGeneralization Trials |
| spellingShingle | Stephanie S. Gervasi Maryanne Opiekun Talia Martin Gary K. Beauchamp Bruce A. Kimball Sharing an environment with sick conspecifics alters odors of healthy animals Scientific Reports Healthy Conspecifics Urinary Volatiles Sick Mice Urine Donors Generalization Trials |
| title | Sharing an environment with sick conspecifics alters odors of healthy animals |
| title_full | Sharing an environment with sick conspecifics alters odors of healthy animals |
| title_fullStr | Sharing an environment with sick conspecifics alters odors of healthy animals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sharing an environment with sick conspecifics alters odors of healthy animals |
| title_short | Sharing an environment with sick conspecifics alters odors of healthy animals |
| title_sort | sharing an environment with sick conspecifics alters odors of healthy animals |
| topic | Healthy Conspecifics Urinary Volatiles Sick Mice Urine Donors Generalization Trials |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32619-4 |
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