Data from: Major histocompatibility complex-linked social signalling affects female fertility
Data files
Nov 03, 2017 version files 162.81 KB
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Burger et al. MHC and r versus pregnancy.xlsx
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Burger et al. µsat markers.xlsx
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Abstract
Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) have been shown to influence social signalling and mate preferences in many species, including humans. First observations suggest that MHC signalling may also affect female fertility. To test this hypothesis, we exposed 191 female horses (Equus caballus) to either a MHC-similar or a MHC-dissimilar stimulus male around the time of ovulation and conception. A within-subject experimental design controlled for non-MHC linked male characteristics, and instrumental insemination with semen of other males (N=106) controlled for potential confounding effects of semen or embryo characteristics. We found that females were more likely to become pregnant if exposed to a MHC-dissimilar than to a MHC-similar male, while overall genetic distance to the stimulus males (based on microsatellite markers on 20 chromosomes) had no effect. Our results demonstrate that early pregnancy failures can be due to maternal life-history decisions (cryptic female choice) influenced by MHC-linked social signalling.