Newborn female mice live longer if they smell older females’ urine

The scent of older females causes younger feminine mice to achieve puberty later and extends their lifespan – the primary identified case of odor affecting lifespan in mammals, although males aren’t affected

By Alice Klein

Newborn feminine mice that sniff odours from grownup feminine mice reside 8 per cent longer than anticipated, probably as a result of their puberty will get delayed.

We have identified for the reason that Nineteen Seventies that getting younger feminine mice to odor older females’ urine causes them to attain puberty later. This is considered as a result of “if you perceive you’ve got lots of adult female competitors in your environment that could affect your ability to reproduce, it may pay to delay your sexual maturation until they’re not around”, says …