Evaluation of involvement of accessory olfactory (vomeronasal) system in estrous cyclicity and mating in female mice
Rajendren, G.; Dominic, C.J.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 24(9): 573-577
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5189 PMID: 3557558 Document Number: 283938
Effects of bilateral transection of the lateral olfactory tract (LOT) and of the vomeronasal nerve (VNN), and surgical ablation of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) on estrous cyclicity and mating in female mice were investigated. Ablation of VNO or transection of VNN or transection of LOT at the posterior levels failed to disrupt estrous cycle and mating in female mice. Transection of LOT at the anterior levels induced anestrus in a significant number of the females. Among the cycling females in this group, significantly fewer animals mated following pairing with males; the majority of the females which mated showed a delay in mating. By contrast, sham-operated, and intact females mated within 24 hr of detection of the proestrous smear. The results suggest that olfactory bulbular input to the rostral olfactory cortex is important for the incidence of normal estrous cyclicity and behavioural estrus in mice. The results also rule out the involvement of the accessory olfactory system in estrous cyclicity and mating behaviour in female mice.