Hilda Bruce
Encyclopedia
Hilda Margaret Bruce was a British
zoologist
, best known for her discovery of the Bruce effect
, a pheromonal
behaviour observed in many rodent
species.
at King's College for Women
, where she received a B.Sc. in Household and Social Science, and another in Physiology
. In 1930, Bruce joined the National Institute for Medical Research
at Mount Vernon, Hampstead
. Her early research was dedicated towards the understanding of Vitamin D
; she also jointly published the first article describing the breeding characteristics of the golden hamster
. In 1933, Bruce was employed by the Pharmaceutical Society
, where she continued her research on Vitamin D. In 1941, she was appointed to set up the Cod Liver Oil (Poultry) Standardisation Laboratory. In 1944, she returned to the NIMR, where she formulated specialised diets for laboratory animals.
From the early 1950s, Bruce turned her attentions towards sexual behaviour in rodents, particularly the Whitten effect
. In 1959, she published her discovery of what is now called the Bruce effect
, the termination of pregnancy
following exposure to the scent of an unfamiliar male. Bruce retired from the NIMR in 1963, but continued part-time research, variously on nutrients, development
and pheromones, at the Department of Investigative Medicine in Cambridge
. She continued work at the Department until 1973. In her later years, Bruce largely used a wheelchair, having been afflicted with worsening rheumatoid arthritis
since 1942.
. In one experiment, she housed newly-mated pregnant females with male mice that were not the father of the carried embryo. As a result, the rate of miscarriage
s increased, these females subsequently returning to oestrus and mating with the new male. No increased rate of miscarriages occurred when pregnant mice were paired with juvenile or castrated
mice.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
zoologist
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
, best known for her discovery of the Bruce effect
Bruce effect
The Bruce effect, or pregnancy block, refers to the tendency for female rodents to terminate their pregnancies following exposure to the scent of an unfamiliar male. The effect has primarily been studied in laboratory mice , but is also observed in deer-mice, meadow voles, and collared lemmings...
, a pheromonal
Pheromone
A pheromone is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting outside the body of the secreting individual to impact the behavior of the receiving individual...
behaviour observed in many rodent
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
species.
Biography
Hilda Bruce was born on 5 April 1903. She was educated at St. Leonard's School. In 1923, she began her tertiary studiesTertiary education
Tertiary education, also referred to as third stage, third level, and post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of a school providing a secondary education, such as a high school, secondary school, university-preparatory school...
at King's College for Women
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, where she received a B.Sc. in Household and Social Science, and another in Physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
. In 1930, Bruce joined the National Institute for Medical Research
National Institute for Medical Research
The National Institute for Medical Research, commonly abbreviated to NIMR, is a medical research facility situated in Mill Hill, on the outskirts of London, England. It is mainly funded by the Medical Research Council, or MRC, and is its largest establishment and the only one designated as an...
at Mount Vernon, Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
. Her early research was dedicated towards the understanding of Vitamin D
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids. In humans, vitamin D is unique both because it functions as a prohormone and because the body can synthesize it when sun exposure is adequate ....
; she also jointly published the first article describing the breeding characteristics of the golden hamster
Golden Hamster
The golden hamster or Syrian hamster, Mesocricetus auratus, is a very well known member of the rodent subfamily Cricetinae, the hamsters. In the wild they are now considered vulnerable. Their numbers have been declining due to loss of habitat and deliberate destruction by humans. However, they are...
. In 1933, Bruce was employed by the Pharmaceutical Society
Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain was formerly the statutory regulatory and professional body for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in England, Scotland and Wales...
, where she continued her research on Vitamin D. In 1941, she was appointed to set up the Cod Liver Oil (Poultry) Standardisation Laboratory. In 1944, she returned to the NIMR, where she formulated specialised diets for laboratory animals.
From the early 1950s, Bruce turned her attentions towards sexual behaviour in rodents, particularly the Whitten effect
Whitten effect
The Whitten effect is a phenomenon observed by Wesley K. Whitten , whereby male mouse pheromone-laden urine synchronizes the estrus cycle "among unisexually grouped females."...
. In 1959, she published her discovery of what is now called the Bruce effect
Bruce effect
The Bruce effect, or pregnancy block, refers to the tendency for female rodents to terminate their pregnancies following exposure to the scent of an unfamiliar male. The effect has primarily been studied in laboratory mice , but is also observed in deer-mice, meadow voles, and collared lemmings...
, the termination of pregnancy
Miscarriage
Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or fetus is incapable of surviving independently, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation...
following exposure to the scent of an unfamiliar male. Bruce retired from the NIMR in 1963, but continued part-time research, variously on nutrients, development
Developmental biology
Developmental biology is the study of the process by which organisms grow and develop. Modern developmental biology studies the genetic control of cell growth, differentiation and "morphogenesis", which is the process that gives rise to tissues, organs and anatomy.- Related fields of study...
and pheromones, at the Department of Investigative Medicine in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. She continued work at the Department until 1973. In her later years, Bruce largely used a wheelchair, having been afflicted with worsening rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. The process produces an inflammatory response of the synovium secondary to hyperplasia of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development...
since 1942.
Bruce effect
Throughout the 1950s, Bruce studied sexual behaviour in laboratory mice, with a particular interest in oestrus synchronisationWhitten effect
The Whitten effect is a phenomenon observed by Wesley K. Whitten , whereby male mouse pheromone-laden urine synchronizes the estrus cycle "among unisexually grouped females."...
. In one experiment, she housed newly-mated pregnant females with male mice that were not the father of the carried embryo. As a result, the rate of miscarriage
Miscarriage
Miscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or fetus is incapable of surviving independently, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation...
s increased, these females subsequently returning to oestrus and mating with the new male. No increased rate of miscarriages occurred when pregnant mice were paired with juvenile or castrated
Castration
Castration is any action, surgical, chemical, or otherwise, by which a male loses the functions of the testicles or a female loses the functions of the ovaries.-Humans:...
mice.