The effect of scents on the territorial and aggressive behaviour of laboratory rats.

Abstract The majority of works found in the literature mention odours as an important factor in the development of social lines and the unleashing of aggressive behaviour, but very few authors have studied more deeply the role that these odours play, how they influence behaviour and what importance the variations of these marks of identity may have. In the present work we analyse social relations presented by laboratory rats ( Rattus norvegicus , Wistar breed) in seminatural conditions, with special reference to behaviours of dominance, territorialism and aggressiveness, and the importance that these marks of odour play on these behaviours. For this purpose, different individuals (from the established colonies as well as intruders, both males and females and pups) were impregnated with the urine of other individuals and then observed to see whether differences existed in the aggressive behaviour shown towards the intruders by the alpha male of the colony.