What is the Whitten Effect?

What is the Whitten Effect?

• A. A male is added to a cage of females, resulting in the synchronization of their estrous cycles.
• B. A female is paired to a younger adult male, resulting in more offspring.
• C. A litter of pups that is born during the night will be more likely to survive.
• D. Postpartum estrus occurs after a female gives birth.

Answer: (A)

The Whitten effect is the pheromone-driven synchronization of estrous cycles in a group of female mice when a sexually mature male is introduced to their cage. The male’s pheromones—present in urine and other secretions—signal the females to shift their hormonal cycles so they enter estrus together, typically within 24 to 72 hours. This synchronization helps ensure that mating can occur in a concentrated window, increasing the chance of pregnancy and allowing breeders to plan litters more efficiently. It’s not about postpartum estrus or litter survival, and it isn’t about pairing a female with a younger male to increase offspring.

The Whitten effect is the pheromone-driven synchronization of estrous cycles in a group of female mice when a sexually mature male is introduced to their cage. The male’s pheromones—present in urine and other secretions—signal the females to shift their hormonal cycles so they enter estrus together, typically within 24 to 72 hours. This synchronization helps ensure that mating can occur in a concentrated window, increasing the chance of pregnancy and allowing breeders to plan litters more efficiently. It’s not about postpartum estrus or litter survival, and it isn’t about pairing a female with a younger male to increase offspring.