Professor Gary Beauchamp and his colleagues at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA) have discovered that mice can recognize older individuals through the scent of urine.
This is a crucial skill for these rodents, as it allows them to select healthy and suitable mates.
The research team conducted experiments using urine samples from reproductive mice of two age groups: 3-10 months and those older than 17 months (comparable to humans in their 20s versus those aged 50 and above), and placed these samples at each end of a Y-shaped tunnel.
When the experimental mice were released into this tunnel, it was observed that they could distinctly differentiate between the two types of urine, indicating that the samples contained different components.
The scientists found that in older mice, the levels of phenylacetamide and indole were significantly higher, suggesting that these chemicals may be linked to a decline in immune function (a factor often associated with aging).
Thanks to this “self-recognition” ability, mice can determine whether their potential partners are young or too old.
NGUYEN SINH
