Olfaction and Sexual Receptivity in Female Golden-Hamster

Abstract

Apparently olfaction is not necessary for the appearance of female sexual receptivity in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). Cycling females with olfactory bulb lesions or zinc sulfate induced anosmia showed normal levels of lordosis behavior in response to a male. Following copulation these females showed depressions in receptivity and increases in fighting behavior equivalent to those of control females. However, these postcopulatory depressions were not as great in females receiving the anesthetic barbituate, sodium methohexital. Also noted were disruptions in cyclicity in some bulbectomized females.