Postimplantation Abortion in Pine Voles (Microtus pinetorum) Induced by Strange Males and Pheromones of Strange Males

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Abstract
Induction of abortion by strange males [the Bruce effect] was studied in pine voles, M. pinetorum. Pregnant females not exposed to a strange male during the course of pregnancy will deliver their young between 24 and 26 days after insemination. When pregnant females were exposed to strange males after 10 or 15 days of pregnancy, only a small percentage (12% and 13%) delivered young sired by the original male. The remainder had aborted their litters and had new litters sired by the strange male. In experiments where pregnant females were exposed to pheromones of strange males in cage litter soiled by these males only 7% delivered litters compared with 80% of the controls.