Naked mole-rat queens suppress rival fertility with chemical signal
Researchers in Berlin have identified a chemical signal used by naked mole-rat queens to prevent other females from breeding. Earlier hypotheses focused on physical dominance.
Scientists at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin have discovered the mechanism by which naked mole-rat queens (Heterocephalus glaber) suppress the fertility of other females within their colonies. The findings were published in a scientific journal.
Previously, the prevailing hypothesis suggested that bullying and physical violence were the primary methods queens used to prevent reproduction among rival females. However, researchers deemed this impractical given the extensive underground tunnel networks, which can span up to three kilometers.
The study reveals that queens employ a sophisticated olfactory signaling program. Naked mole rats possess notably large noses and an estimated 1,200 olfactory receptor genes, exceeding those of mice and significantly outnumbering humans. As they are blind, their sense of smell is crucial for navigation and survival.
Gary Lewin, a neurobiologist and senior author of the study, highlighted the heightened importance of smell for the species. The research indicates that chemical signals are the key tool the queens utilize to regulate reproduction within the colony.