Single Molecule from Queen Prevents Breeding and Succession Fights in Naked Mole Rat Colonies

A single molecule released by the queen both prevents other females from breeding and stops succession fights in naked mole rat colonies. @NewScientist reported that the compound, isopropyl myristate, is produced exclusively by queens in their reproductive organs. Daily spraying of the molecule into cages containing male and female pairs resulted in no pregnancies.

Without the compound, almost all females became pregnant. Researchers at the Max Delbrück Center also removed queens from colonies and applied isopropyl myristate daily for three months. No fights for succession occurred and no females started breeding during that period.

Stopping the application triggered fights among high-ranking females within one week. Approximately three weeks later, one female became pregnant and assumed the role of new queen. Exposure to the molecule altered levels of progesterone and prolactin.

The queen patrols every part of her colony, which in the wild may extend three kilometres underground, to deposit traces of the scent. Isopropyl myristate is volatile but not highly volatile, so traces persist for at least one day. Highly ranked females avoided places containing the molecule, while lower-ranked animals did not.

The compound appeared in a few social mole rat species tested but was absent from all solitary species examined. It is widely used in cosmetics and was reported in a 2008 study to be released from the nipples or areolas of women during pregnancy and after childbirth. The study was published in Nature with DOI 10.1038/s41586-026-10772-5.