ABSTRACT
We studied the effects of a single genetic change on a complex mammalian behavior using animals congenic for two variants of Abpa, the gene for the alpha subunit of mouse salivary androgen-binding protein (ABP), in two-way preference tests. Females exhibited a preference for investigating salivas of males of their own genetic type of ABP but not for urines of either type of male. This preference behavior is consistent for samples of mice from geographically diverse populations of Mus musculus domesticus and M. m. musculus. These findings provide an explanation for the observation that this gene is evolving under strong selection.
Subject(s)
Androgen-Binding Protein/genetics , Mice, Inbred C3H/genetics , Saliva/physiology , Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology , Androgen-Binding Protein/physiology , Animals , Female , Male , Maze Learning/physiology , Mice , Mice, Inbred C3H/physiology , Mice, Inbred C3H/urine , Species Specificity , Videotape RecordingABSTRACT
The distribution of deoxyribonuclease II (DNase II) in tissues and body fluids was examined in 12-week-old C3H/He mice. Activity was observed in most tissues and body fluids except erythrocytes and serum, but their levels were quite different among tissues. Activity was high in the spleen, salivary gland, and preputial gland, moderate in the liver, kidney, thymus, lung, heart, pancreas, seminal vesicle, coagulating gland and prostate and low in the brain, testis and muscles. Sex difference, males having a significantly higher DNase II activity level than females, was observed in salivary gland, kidney and urine.
Subject(s)
Deoxyribonucleases/metabolism , Animals , Female , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C3H/blood , Mice, Inbred C3H/urine , Sex Characteristics , Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms , Tissue DistributionABSTRACT
Inhibition of a variety of commercial test strips for hyperglucosuria was experienced in laboratory mice. All mouse strains tested were found to have sufficiently high levels of ascorbic acid to cause inhibition, and male levels were higher than those of females. A regime to obtain optimum detection of positive results is discussed.
