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Mouse > Behavior > Flashcards

Behavior Flashcards

1
Q

What are the social groups wild mice form called? Which individuals are contained in each social group? What is the breeding of the group characterized by?

A

Demes
Dominant breeding male, hierarchy of females, subordinate males, and juveniles
Inbreeding

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2
Q

Characterize wild mice (3)

A

Crepuscular, territorial, and omnivorous

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3
Q

Coprophagy is what percentage of ingesta?

A

1/3

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4
Q

What is the function of releaser pheromones?

A

Immediate behavior

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5
Q

What is the function of signaler pheromones? (3)

A

Convey individual or group identity, mediate parent-offspring recognition, mate choice

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6
Q

Where are pheromones found?

A

Urine and lacrimal, salivary, mammary, preputial, and plantar glands

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7
Q

What is the function of primer pheromones?

A

Slow developing and longer-lasting endocrine response

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8
Q

What structures detect pheromones? (4)

A

VMO, olfactory epithelium, septal organ of Masera within the olfactory epithelium, Gruenberg ganglion at anterior end of nasal cavity

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9
Q

Where do the signals from pheromones travel?

A

To ganglion layer of olfactory bulb to the rest of the brain.

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10
Q

What does Mups stand for? On which chromosome are they found?

A

Major urinary proteins
Chromosome 4 contains cluster of 21 Mups genes and pseudogenes

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11
Q

What is the structure of Mups?

A

Lipocalins - Small soluble proteins

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12
Q

What is the function of Mups?

A

Bind small organic chemicals (pheromones) and transport and stabilize them. Contributes to slow release and serves as a protein pheromone.

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13
Q

What sex excretes more Mups? List one sex-dependent Mup.

A

Male
Darcin - Female attractant

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14
Q

What are kairomones?

A

Chemical signals between species

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15
Q

Why are Mups a human concern?

A

Potent human allergens, particularly Mus m1 (Ag1 or MA1)

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16
Q

What is the Lee-Boot effect?

A

Suppression of estrus cyclicity in group-housed females isolated from males.

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17
Q

Generally, what do MHC proteins determine? List four specific examples.

A

Genetic relatedness
Social preference, mating, recognition of young, and male aggression

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18
Q

Describe ultrasonic communication in mice.

A

Used by males to communicate and attract females. Songs are genetically innate and strain unique, can be learned to limited extent.

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19
Q

What social structure do wild mice establish?

A

One male plus one or more females and their offspring. Territorial, with size of territory dependent on food and population density.

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20
Q

Describe the male mouse hierarchy.

A

Have a dominance hierarchy, but will fight over rank.

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21
Q

Are wild rats territorial or despotic?

A

Based on population density.
Low population density - Territorial. Will defend the burrows of one or more females.
High population density - Despotic. Develop a hierarchy with surrounding males.

22
Q

How do mice and rats communicate?

A

Primarily through olfactory and auditory cues.

23
Q

How does the constant secretion of protein in rodent urine impact rodent olfaction?

A

Protein binds the hormones for slow release into the envrionment.

24
Q

What is the function of the vomeronasal organ?

A

Activated by pheromones. Comprised of sensory epithelia that convert chemical signal of pheromones into electrical nerve impulses that carry messages to the brain.

25
Q

Rodents can detect frequencies in what range? Where are they most sensitive?

A

Detect frequencies from 80Hz to 100kHz. Most sensitive in 15-20kHz range, as compared to humans that hear in the 20Hz to 20kHz range.

26
Q

When do mice emit ultrasonic vocalizations?

A

Not in aversive situations. Male mice produce US calls when encountering females. Females do so when calling for pups or communicating with other females.

27
Q

What ultrasonic vocalizations do rats produce?

A

22kHz - Aversive and agonistic situations. Generally considered to reflect a negative affective state, may reflect alarm calls.
50 kHz - Non-aversive conditions and situations with rewards. May indicate positive affect.

28
Q

Describe agonistic and capture communications.

A

Audible

29
Q

What are the positive effects of rat tickling?

A

Increase positive vocalization, approach behavior, decrease anxiety measures, improve handling, and in some cases decrease stress hormones.

30
Q

Describe rodent vision.

A

Dichromatic vision with UV-sensitive cones.

31
Q

Describe the diet of mice and rats. What are the food preferences of mice and rats?

A

Omnivorous and granivorous.
Mice: Grains > Meat/fat > sugar/fruit/Chocolate.
Rats: Pretty much eat anything, but prefer high fat foods.

32
Q

What is an ethogram? What behaviors are included?

A

A catalog of behaviors or activities observed in an animal.
Includes inactive, active, and abnormal behavior.

33
Q

What are maintenance behaviors?

A

Active behaviors that typically function to maintain the physiological stasis, comfort, and appearance.

34
Q

Describe the syntactic grooming chain.

A

Occurs sporadically and is more intense after feeding. Distinct sequence for grooming: Elliptical stroke, unilateral stroke, bilateral stroke, body licking.
More loosely organized in the rat, but still has 4 phases.

35
Q

What is the most preferred enrichment for mice?

A

Nesting material, even over social contact.

36
Q

What sex of mice build nests?

A

All. Pregnant females build the most complicated nests, but nest-building is also performed by males and non-pregnant females.

37
Q

Do mice prefer static or ventilated cages? What counteracts this preference?

A

Prefer non-ventilated cages, but nesting materials counteract that preference.

38
Q

When do rats commonly build nests?

A

Low temperatures or parturition.

39
Q

What is the most common nest structure in males? Periparturient females?

A

Males: Flat collection of items.
Periparturient females: Fully structured dome.

40
Q

When is play in the rat most common? In what sexes?

A

Starts around 18 days of age, peaks at 30-36 days, and declines thereafter. Both sexes.

41
Q

What is play predictive of in rats?

A

Dominance status.

42
Q

Differentiate play from serious fighting.

A

Play - Playful contact of the nape.
Serious - Attack and defense of the rump and lower flanks.

43
Q

What is the difference between mediated and escalated aggression?

A

If aggressors choose to ignore following flight and submissive behavior (mediated) or continues to chase/fight (escalated).

44
Q

Describe aggressive neck grooming in rats.

A

Groomed rat remains immobile and vocalizes. Sudden movements may trigger a bite and kick from the groomer.

45
Q

What are behaviors associated with mediated and escalated aggression?

A

Mediated - Fleeing, belly-up roll. May only be front part of body in older rats.
Escalated - Boxing, sidling (crab walk/lateral approach), and aggressive bites aimed at rump and back.

46
Q

What are the two mechanistic categories of abnormal behavior?

A

Maladaptive - Normal animal in abnormal environment.
Malfunctional - Abnormal animal in abnormal environment.

47
Q

What is one of the most common triggers of infanticide?

A

Maternal stress. In the wild, male mice kill infants they did not father.

48
Q

What are the two types of abnormal repetitive behaviors?

A

Stereotypies - Repetitive and fixed in posture and behavioral sequencing. Apparently purposeless.
Impulsive/compulsive behaviors - Repetition of an inappropriate goal with variable flexible goal-directed behavior. Barbering in mice.

49
Q

How is barbering similar to trichotillomania in humans?

A

Female-biased and begins at puberty.

50
Q

Describe the difference between stress and distress.

A

Stress - Effect produced by external events or internal factors which induce an alteration in an animal’s biologic equilibrium. Might not be harmful, may have potential beneficial effects (eustress).
Distress - Aversive state in which an animal is unable to adapt completely to stressors. May manifest as abnormal behaviors or pathologic conditions. Behaviors that are reinforced can become habitual. Inability to perform behaviors essential for survival (nest building) or control aversive stimuli can lead to chronic states of distress.

Mouse (17 decks)

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