Odor and Food Preferences of House Mice, Mus-Musculus

Abstract

Odour preferences of house mice were investigated in test animals housed singly in two-armed mazes fitted with shelters where food and water were freely available. The number and duration of the visits made to each maze arm were measured, firstly for a settling-in period when the test item was absent from the maze, and then when the test item was present in one of the arms. Differences between the test arm and the control arm were measured and tested statistically. When ripening maze was present most of the test mice made more visits to the arm containing the test item than to the control arm. When ripening maize, mature canary seed, mature sunflower seed or male urine was present most of the test mice spent more time in the test arm than in the control arm. Food preferences were investigated by offering mice the choice of a control diet or a diet incorporating one of the items used in the odour preference tests, and measuring the between-hopper difference in intake. When the test hopper contained canary seed or maize most mice ate more of the test diet than the control diet. When the test hopper contained dried peas or the control diet supplemented with male mouse urine most mice ate less of the test diet than the control diet. The results suggest that odours from both food items and male mouse urine may increase the time spent by the mice in the vicinity of the odour source. They also suggest that items with odours which attract the attention of mice may not necessarily be acceptable as food items.