Abstract
INTRASPECIES chemical communication with urine-borne substances is widespread in mammals. Numerous reports have indicated that the nature of the messages transmitted in urine depends on such factors as the hormonal state, the age, the individual identity and the level of stress of the sender1,2.I report here that information transmitted in urinary signals also depends on the diet of the sender. These findings have important implications for the study of animal chemical communication systems3.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Birch, M. C. (ed.), Pheromones (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1974).
Beauchamp, G. K., Doty, R. L., Moulton, D. G., and Mugford, R. A., in Olfaction Reproductive Productive Processes and Behavior (edit. by Doty, R. L.), (Academic, New York, in the press).
Hendry, L. B., Wichmann, J. K., Hindenlang, D. M., Mumma, R. O., and Anderson, M. E., Science, 188, 59–62 (1975).
Rood, J. P., Anim. Behav. Monog., 5, 1–83 (1972).
Kunkel, P., and Kunkel, I., Z. Tierpsychol., 21, 602–641 (1964).
Beauchamp, G. K., Physiol. Behav., 10, 589–594 (1973).
Beauchamp, G. K., and Berüter, J., Behav. Biol., 9, 43–47 (1973).
Leon, M., Physiol. Behav., 14, 311–319 (1975).
Berüter, J., Beauchamp, G. K., and Muetterties, E. L., Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun., 53, 264–271 (1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BEAUCHAMP, G. Diet influences attractiveness of urine in guinea pigs. Nature 263, 587–588 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/263587a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/263587a0
This article is cited by
-
The effects of familiarity and reproductive status on olfactory discrimination by female Cape ground squirrels (Xerus inauris)
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2017)
-
Organic synthesis in the Smith Group: a personal selection of a dozen lessons learned at the University of Pennsylvania
The Journal of Antibiotics (2016)
-
Rapid onset of mate quality assessment via chemical signals in a woodland salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2012)
-
Characterization of urinary volatiles in Swiss male mice (Mus musculus): bioassay of identified compounds
Journal of Biosciences (2002)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
