The mouse that sniffed and roared

Male mice become bolder after smelling receptive females

Source: New Scientist December 8 2001 p27

University of Western Ontario researchers have discovered that male mice become bolder after smelling receptive female mice. The males exhibited less aversion to the scent of cats when the mice had smelt female mice for a minute. These mice also had higher testosterone levels and lower stress hormone levels. These effects disappeared after the males had been exposed to female scents for an hour or more. This research is described in ‘Hormones and Behavior’, vol 40, p497.
RM,BT