Genetic variation at MHC class II loci influences both olfactory signals and scent discrimination in ring-tailed lemurs.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Diversity at the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is critical to health and fitness, such that MHC genotype may predict an individual's quality or compatibility as a competitor, ally, or mate. Moreover, because MHC products can influence the components of bodily secretions, an individual's body odors may signal its MHC composition and influence partner identification or mate choice. Here, we investigated MHC-based signaling and recipient sensitivity by testing for odor-gene covariance and behavioral discrimination of MHC diversity and pairwise dissimilarity in a strepsirrhine primate, the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta).

Methods

First, we coupled genotyping of the MHC class II gene, DRB, with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of genital gland secretions t

SUBMITTER: Grogan KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6704550 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature