Queen's odor blocks rivals reproducing in naked mole-rat colonies
A Nature study shows naked mole-rat queens emit isopropyl myristate (IPM), a scent that suppresses reproduction in non-breeding females by altering prolactin; IPM exposure activates olfactory neurons, and experiments that block smell or pair non-breeding females with males reduce prolactin and enable mating. IPM alone can maintain the colony’s single-queen structure even without a queen, explaining how this eusocial mammal keeps one reproductive leader.
