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Massenet M, Philippe R, Pisanski K, Arnaud V, Barluet de Beauchesne L, Reynaud K, Mathevon N, Reby D. Puppy whines mediate maternal behavior in domestic dogs. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2316818121. [PMID: 38768360 PMCID: PMC11145252 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316818121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
In mammals, offspring vocalizations typically encode information about identity and body condition, allowing parents to limit alloparenting and adjust care. But how do these vocalizations mediate parental behavior in species faced with the problem of rearing not one, but multiple offspring, such as domestic dogs? Comprehensive acoustic analyses of 4,400 whines recorded from 220 Beagle puppies in 40 litters revealed litter and individual (within litter) differences in call acoustic structure. By then playing resynthesized whines to mothers, we showed that they provided more care to their litters, and were more likely to carry the emitting loudspeaker to the nest, in response to whine variants derived from their own puppies than from strangers. Importantly, care provisioning was attenuated by experimentally moving the fundamental frequency (fo, perceived as pitch) of their own puppies' whines outside their litter-specific range. Within most litters, we found a negative relationship between puppies' whine fo and body weight. Consistent with this, playbacks showed that maternal care was stronger in response to high-pitched whine variants simulating relatively small offspring within their own litter's range compared to lower-pitched variants simulating larger offspring. We thus show that maternal care in a litter-rearing species relies on a dual assessment of offspring identity and condition, largely based on level-specific inter- and intra-litter variation in offspring call fo. This dual encoding system highlights how, even in a long-domesticated species, vocalizations reflect selective pressures to meet species-specific needs. Comparative work should now investigate whether similar communication systems have convergently evolved in other litter-rearing species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Massenet
- Equipe de Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, University of Saint-Etienne, CNRS, Inserm, Saint-Etienne42100, France
| | - Romane Philippe
- Equipe de Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, University of Saint-Etienne, CNRS, Inserm, Saint-Etienne42100, France
| | - Katarzyna Pisanski
- Equipe de Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, University of Saint-Etienne, CNRS, Inserm, Saint-Etienne42100, France
- Laboratoire de Dynamique du Langage, University Lyon 2, CNRS, Lyon69363, France
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław50-527, Poland
| | - Vincent Arnaud
- Département des arts, des lettres et du langage, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, QCG7H 2B1, Canada
| | - Lucie Barluet de Beauchesne
- Equipe de Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, University of Saint-Etienne, CNRS, Inserm, Saint-Etienne42100, France
| | - Karine Reynaud
- École Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Maisons-Alfort94700, France
- Département Physiologie Animale et Systèmes d'Elevage, Unité Mixte de Recherche en Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, CNRS, Institut National de la Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, University of Tours, Nouzilly37380, France
| | - Nicolas Mathevon
- Equipe de Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, University of Saint-Etienne, CNRS, Inserm, Saint-Etienne42100, France
- Institut universitaire de France, Paris75005, France
- Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Laboratoire Cognition Humaine et Artificielle, Paris-Sciences-Lettres University, Paris75014, France
| | - David Reby
- Equipe de Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, University of Saint-Etienne, CNRS, Inserm, Saint-Etienne42100, France
- Institut universitaire de France, Paris75005, France
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2
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Martin M, Gridley T, Elwen S, Charrier I. Early onset of postnatal individual vocal recognition in a highly colonial mammal species. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221769. [PMID: 36475443 PMCID: PMC9727656 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mother-young vocal recognition is widespread in mammals. The features of vocal recognition are known to be shaped by the ecological constraints faced by each species. In some species, a rapid establishment of mother-young vocal recognition is crucial for offspring's survival. However, knowledge of the precise features of this recognition system, especially the timing of the onset in the first hours after birth, is often lacking. Here we show that Cape fur seal females can recognize their pup's voice 2-4 h after parturition and that pups develop this aptitude 4-6 h after birth. This study is the first to investigate this mechanism in a wild and free-ranging mammal from only 2 h after birth. We report the fastest establishment of mother-young vocal recognition for any mammalian species, including humans, described to date. Such early vocal identification in pups suggests an in utero vocal imprinting. These findings highlight the synergistic role of environmental constraints and biological traits in optimizing the timing of individual vocal recognition onset in vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Martin
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, UMR 9197, 91400 Saclay, France,Sea Search Research and Conservation NPC, 4 Bath Road, Muizenberg, Cape Town 7945, South Africa
| | - Tess Gridley
- Sea Search Research and Conservation NPC, 4 Bath Road, Muizenberg, Cape Town 7945, South Africa,Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7605, South Africa
| | - Simon Elwen
- Sea Search Research and Conservation NPC, 4 Bath Road, Muizenberg, Cape Town 7945, South Africa,Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7605, South Africa
| | - Isabelle Charrier
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, UMR 9197, 91400 Saclay, France
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Equivalence classification, learning by exclusion, and long-term memory in pinnipeds: cognitive mechanisms demonstrated through research with subjects under human care and in the field. Anim Cogn 2022; 25:1077-1090. [PMID: 35900682 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-022-01658-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Comparative cognition, as an interdisciplinary field, should utilize a holistic approach for studying cognitive mechanisms. We suggest that research with species of interest should employ both work with animals under human care and in the field. This complimentary approach allows for a better understanding of functional cognitive mechanisms themselves (i.e., comparative cognition regarding processes), and how these skill sets can relate to a particular species' ecological niche. We suggest that research evidence for equivalence classification, learning by exclusion, and long-term memory in pinnipeds can provide a foundation for discussion and implementation of a two-pronged methodological approach utilizing 'lab' and field' work. First, we describe evidence from research with pinnipeds under human care supporting each of these cognitive abilities, then follow this with evidence for implications of these mechanisms from complimentary field research. Lastly, we provide a brief discussion of implementation of a purposeful and two-pronged research approach as an understanding of pinnipeds' high levels of cognitive flexibility may underlie their success for navigating the ever-changing, and often human-altered, natural environment.
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Linhart P, Mahamoud-Issa M, Stowell D, Blumstein DT. The potential for acoustic individual identification in mammals. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-021-00222-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Linossier J, Casey C, Charrier I, Mathevon N, Reichmuth C. Maternal responses to pup calls in a high-cost lactation species. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20210469. [PMID: 34932922 PMCID: PMC8692032 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bonding between mothers and their young is fundamental to mammalian reproductive behaviour and individual fitness. In social systems where the risk of confusing filial and non-filial offspring is high, mothers should demonstrate early, strong and consistent responses to their kin throughout the period of offspring dependence, irrespective of maternal traits. We tested this hypothesis through playback experiments in the northern elephant seal Mirounga angustirostris, a phocid species that breeds in high-density colonies. We found that mothers recognized their offspring throughout lactation and as early as 1-2 days after parturition. Measures of experience (age) and temperament (aggressivity) did not predict their response strength to filial playback treatments, nor did pup age or sex. Some mothers showed great consistency in behavioural responses throughout the lactation period, while others were less predictable. The strength of a female's response did not influence her pup's weaning weight; however, more consistent females weaned pups of higher mass. This is a rare demonstration of individual recognition among phocid mothers and their offspring, and suggests that consistency in maternal responsiveness may be an important social factor influencing the pup's growth and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Linossier
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
- Biophonia, Sualello 20232, Oletta, France
| | - Caroline Casey
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - Isabelle Charrier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, UMR 9197, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay 91405, France
| | - Nicolas Mathevon
- Equipe Neuro-Ethologie Sensorielle ENES / CRNL, University of Lyon / Saint-Etienne, CNRS, Inserm, 42100 Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Colleen Reichmuth
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
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6
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Varola M, Verga L, Sroka MGU, Villanueva S, Charrier I, Ravignani A. Can harbor seals ( Phoca vitulina) discriminate familiar conspecific calls after long periods of separation? PeerJ 2021; 9:e12431. [PMID: 34820184 PMCID: PMC8601051 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar calls may play a key role in pinnipeds' communication and survival, as in the case of mother-pup interactions. Vocal discrimination abilities have been suggested to be more developed in pinniped species with the highest selective pressure such as the otariids; yet, in some group-living phocids, such as harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), mothers are also able to recognize their pup's voice. Conspecifics' vocal recognition in pups has never been investigated; however, the repeated interaction occurring between pups within the breeding season suggests that long-term vocal discrimination may occur. Here we explored this hypothesis by presenting three rehabilitated seal pups with playbacks of vocalizations from unfamiliar or familiar pups. It is uncommon for seals to come into rehabilitation for a second time in their lifespan, and this study took advantage of these rare cases. A simple visual inspection of the data plots seemed to show more reactions, and of longer duration, in response to familiar as compared to unfamiliar playbacks in two out of three pups. However, statistical analyses revealed no significant difference between the experimental conditions. We also found no significant asymmetry in orientation (left vs. right) towards familiar and unfamiliar sounds. While statistics do not support the hypothesis of an established ability to discriminate familiar vocalizations from unfamiliar ones in harbor seal pups, further investigations with a larger sample size are needed to confirm or refute this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mila Varola
- Comparative Bioacoustics Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Pieterburen, the Netherlands
| | - Laura Verga
- Comparative Bioacoustics Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Marlene Gunda Ursel Sroka
- Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Pieterburen, the Netherlands
- Department of Behavioral Biology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Stella Villanueva
- Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Pieterburen, the Netherlands
| | - Isabelle Charrier
- Paris Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Andrea Ravignani
- Comparative Bioacoustics Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Research Department, Sealcentre Pieterburen, Pieterburen, the Netherlands
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de Reus K, Soma M, Anichini M, Gamba M, de Heer Kloots M, Lense M, Bruno JH, Trainor L, Ravignani A. Rhythm in dyadic interactions. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200337. [PMID: 34420383 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
This review paper discusses rhythmic interactions and distinguishes them from non-rhythmic interactions. We report on communicative behaviours in social and sexual contexts, as found in dyads of humans, non-human primates, non-primate mammals, birds, anurans and insects. We discuss observed instances of rhythm in dyadic interactions, identify knowledge gaps and propose suggestions for future research. We find that most studies on rhythmicity in interactive signals mainly focus on one modality (acoustic or visual) and we suggest more work should be performed on multimodal signals. Although the social functions of interactive rhythms have been fairly well described, developmental research on rhythms used to regulate social interactions is still lacking. Future work should also focus on identifying the exact timing mechanisms involved. Rhythmic signalling behaviours are widespread and critical in regulating social interactions across taxa, but many questions remain unexplored. A multidisciplinary, comparative cross-species approach may help provide answers. This article is part of the theme issue 'Synchrony and rhythm interaction: from the brain to behavioural ecology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen de Reus
- Comparative Bioacoustics Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Artificial Intelligence Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Masayo Soma
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Marianna Anichini
- Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg Institute for Advanced Study, 'Brain' Research Area, Delmenhorst, Germany.,Division of Animal Physiology and Behaviour, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Marco Gamba
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Miriam Lense
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | - Laurel Trainor
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrea Ravignani
- Comparative Bioacoustics Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Extreme ecological constraints lead to high degree of individual stereotypy in the vocal repertoire of the Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03043-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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9
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Brochon J, Coureaud G, Hue C, Crochu B, Charrier I. Odor discrimination in terrestrial and aquatic environments in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) living in captivity. Physiol Behav 2021; 235:113408. [PMID: 33789165 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Pinnipeds, as any mammal species, use multimodal signals, including olfactory ones, to ensure vital functions. Thus, some pinniped species seem able to use olfaction in both social and foraging contexts and to discriminate between different odors in air including both natural and artificial odors, but studies on that topic remain scarce. Here, we studied the olfactory capabilities of California sea lions living in captivity at La Flèche Zoo (France) in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. We used two categories of odors: social odors (from familiar individuals of the same group, unfamiliar individuals from another Zoo, animal zookeepers and a terrestrial carnivore) and non-social odors (food and odors identified as repellents in certain vertebrates). Several behavioral parameters were measured and analyzed as the number and duration of contact with the odor, mouth openings, vocalizations (air only) and air bubble production (water only). Our results, although limited by the low number of animals monitored (n = 5), suggest that California sea lions are able to discriminate between different odors both in the air and under water. In the aquatic environment, the process allowing the perception of odors remains to be characterized. Applications to this work could be considered in captive conditions as well as in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jules Brochon
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, UMR 9197, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Gérard Coureaud
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon (CRNL), INSERM U1028, CNRS UMR 5292, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université Jean Monnet, CH Le Vinatier Bâtiment Neurocampus, 95 Boulevard Pinel, 69675 Bron cedex, France.
| | | | | | - Isabelle Charrier
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, UMR 9197, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France.
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Nowak R, Lévy F, Chaillou E, Cornilleau F, Cognié J, Marnet PG, Williams PD, Keller M. Neonatal Suckling, Oxytocin, and Early Infant Attachment to the Mother. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 11:612651. [PMID: 33628199 PMCID: PMC7897683 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.612651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) promotes maternal care and social affiliation in adults but its importance in infant attachment still remains unknown. True animal models of infant attachment are extremely rare, and the sheep (in complement to non-human primates) is one of the few that provides the opportunity to investigate its neuroendocrinological basis. In the lamb, access to the udder has strong rewarding properties for the establishment of a preferential relationship with the mother. Therefore, the present study explored the possible involvement of OT through its release during close social contacts with the mother. The first experiment revealed that lambs having free access to the udder from birth onward developed, by 12 h of age, a clear preference for their mothers over another maternal ewe. Delaying access to the udder for six, four or even only 2 h starting at birth, by covering the ewe's udder, resulted in the lack of such a preference without affecting general activity. These effects persisted in most cases at 24 h but by 72 h of age a bond with the mother was clearly expressed. Experiment two showed that social interactions with the mother were followed by a release of OT in the plasma when lambs had the possibility to suckle. Non-nutritive interactions were without effects. Preliminary data on two subjects suggested that OT might also increase in the cerebrospinal fluid after suckling. Finally, in the third experiment, oral administration of a non-peptide OT receptor antagonist (L-368-899, Merck) over the first 4 h after birth led to decreased exploration of the mother's body compared to lambs receiving saline, and impaired the expression of a preference for the mother at 24 h. The effects were no longer observed at 48 h. Our findings demonstrate that both delayed access to the mother's udder and OT receptor antagonist alter the onset of mother preference in newborn lambs. This suggests that central OT facilitates the development of filial attachment through its release during suckling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Nowak
- Unité de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Frédéric Lévy
- Unité de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Elodie Chaillou
- Unité de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Fabien Cornilleau
- Unité de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Juliette Cognié
- Unité de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Pierre-Guy Marnet
- Département Productions Animales, Agroalimentaire, Nutrition (P3AN), Agrocampus Ouest, Rennes, France
| | - Peter D. Williams
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Merck, West Point, NY, United States
| | - Matthieu Keller
- Unité de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
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