VAGINAL SECRETIONS INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF INTERMALE AGGRESSION INSYRIAN-HAMSTERS

Although sexually receptive female hamsters prefer dominant males as m ating partners, it is not clear what role the female might play facili tating aggressive interactions among males that would lead to the esta blishment of a status relationship. The ability of vaginal odors to st imulate male aggression was examined by paring randomly chosen males i n a neutral arena with vaginal odors either present or absent. Males e xhibited significantly more aggression when tested in the scented aren a. Vaginal odors are efficient broadcast signals serving to space fema les, attract males, and to stimulate aggressive interactions among the males while inhibiting aggression towards the female.