Discrimination of Salivary Olfactants by Male Mesocricetus Auratus

Abstract

Salivary secretions of rodents have been observed to play an important role during various developmental periods. The present study examined the nature of adult salivary olfactants in regard to behavioral interactions. The ability of 12 adult male hamsters to detect and respond differentially to salivary stimuli from dominant and submissive males and a diestrous female was assessed. Air-borne stimuli were injected into an open-field, free-choice arena. Male hamsters responded differentially to stimuli as a function of their relative dominant status. Dominants responded to the odors of other males, particularly dominants. Submissives showed no specific preference, though like the dominant animals discriminated conspecific saliva from a saline control. The specificity of responding by dominant versus submissive animals as well as the possible roles of saliva in rodent behavior is discussed.