1384-A Queen Odour Mediates Reproductive Suppression
Recent research has identified isopropyl myristate (IPM) as a critical chemical signal that maintains the social and reproductive hierarchy in naked mole-rat colonies. This unique ester is produced almost exclusively by queens, with levels peaking during ovulation and becoming nearly undetectable in subordinate members. The compound is detected through olfactory pathways, triggering physiological changes such as elevated prolactin and suppressed progesterone to inhibit fertility in non-breeding females. Experimental application of IPM to colonies without a queen successfully prevented…
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