Anosmia in male rhesus monkeys does not alter copulatory activity with cycling females

Science. 1978 Mar 10;199(4333):1095-6. doi: 10.1126/science.415362.

Abstract

Three adult male rhesus monkeys were tested daily with intact adult female partners over the course of four or five mentstrual cycles. The males were made permanently anosmic by chemical ablation of the olfactory epithelium after the second or fourth cycle was completed. All males continued to display typical cycles of copulation with their partners after the anosmia procedures, with the shortest latencies to ejaculation occurring during the periovulatory phase of the partner's ovulatory cycle. Hence, female attractivity and cyclic copulatory performance of rhesus monkeys are not dependent upon olfactory signals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Copulation / physiology*
  • Female
  • Haplorhini
  • Macaca / physiology*
  • Macaca mulatta / physiology*
  • Male
  • Menstruation
  • Odorants*
  • Olfaction Disorders
  • Vasectomy