Single Molecule Released by Naked Mole Rat Queen Prevents Other Females from Breeding

A single molecule released by naked mole rat queens prevents other females in the colony from breeding, experiments have shown. The compound, isopropyl myristate, is produced only by queens in their reproductive organs. Researchers sprayed the molecule daily into cages holding male and female pairs.

No pregnancies occurred. Without the spray, almost all females became pregnant. Removing a queen and applying the molecule for three months produced no fights for succession and no breeding by subordinates.

Stopping the application triggered fights among high-ranking females within one week. One female became pregnant roughly three weeks later. Exposure to the molecule altered levels of progesterone and prolactin.

Queens patrol every part of colonies that can extend three kilometres underground to deposit the scent, which persists for at least one day. Highly ranked females avoided locations containing the molecule, while lower-ranked animals did not. The Lewin team at the Max Delbrück Center tested other mole rat species and found isopropyl myristate only in a few social species, not in solitary ones.

Their oldest queen is 39 years old. The study was published in Nature.