Mammalian chemical communication

Beauchamp G., Doty R.L., Moulton D.G. and Mugford R.A. (1976). The pheromone concept in mammalian chemical communication a critique. In Pheromones and Reproduction in Mammals (Doty R.L., ed.). Academic Press, New York, pp. 143-160. 

Novotny M., Harvey S. and Jemiolo B. (1995). Stereoselectivity in mammalian chemical communication male mouse pheromones. Experientia (Basel) 51, 738-743. 

Although proteinuria is often considered to be a pathological event, we demonstrated that this is not the case for the domestic cat. Male cat urine contains a large amount of the mammalian carboxylesterase family member termed cauxin. Cauxin is excreted in a species-, sex-, and age-dependent manner and regulates the production of felinine, a putative pheromone precursor. This finding provides an example of a previously unknown type of proteinuria involved in chemical communication. 

Keywords Mammalian semiochemicals Mammalian pheromones Mammalian exocrine secretions Chemical communication Territorial marking... 

Only a few compounds or mixtures of compounds have been shown beyond doubt to be mammalian pheromones. This is the main reason why the subject matter of this chapter is not restricted to pheromones and why exocrine secretions and other mammalian excretions in general will be discussed as possible sources of pheromones, even though their role in the chemical communication of the species under discussion has not yet been established. Feeding deterrents are not discussed. In general defensive secretions are also not discussed, but the anal sac secretions of the mustelids are included, because it is possible that these secretions could also fulfill a semiochemical role, in addition to being used for defense. 

Molecular recognition underlies chemical communication, including the phenomena of taste and smell. Pheromones are chemical communicators between individuals, usually members of the same species. Pheromone action has been demonstrated in a number of mammalian species. Several of these affect reproduction. It seems likely that there are human pheromones. The role of these in human behavior is not clear. 

Urine may seem like a sink of terminal processes of mammalian metabolism. However, it is sensible that certain characteristically murine secondary metabolites be used for chemical communication within the species and, moreover, even for gender and gene-specific signalling (Yamazaki, Yamaguchi, Andrews, Peake, Boyse Thomas, 1979). The hypothesis that urine was a major source of the male primer pheromone dates back to the early years of chemical communication research (Marsden Bronson, 1964 Bronson Whitten, 1968), while the early notion of the pheromone s volatility was provided in the wind tunnel experiment of Whitten et al (Whitten, Bronson Greenstein, 1968). 

Beauchamp, G.K., Doty, R.L., Moulton, D.G. Mugford, R.A. 1976. The pheromone concept in mammalian chemical communication A critique. In Mammalian Olfaction, Reproductive Processes and Behavior by R. L. Doty), pp 143—160. New York Academic Press. 

McDonald, D.W. Brown, R.E. 1985. Introduction The pheromone concept in mammalian chemical communication. In Social Odours in Mammals (Ed. by R.E. Brown D.W. McDonald), vol 1, pp 1—18. Oxford Clarendon Press. 

Mammalian Olfaction, Reproductive Processes and Behavior" (1976) which was edited by one of the wave of younger researchers, R. L. Doty, deals specifically with mammals, as the title shows. It contains up-to-date information on the role of smell in the reproductive behaviour and endocrinology of mammals, and in addition, accommodates chapters on the anatomy, physiology and development of the nasal chemosensory pathways and an important critique of the pheromone concept in mammalian chemical communication by J. R. Beauchamp, R. L. Doty, D. G. Moulton and R. A. Mugford. A review of reproductive endocrine influences on human nasal chemoreception emphasizes the pressing need for more intensive critical investigation of the behavioural role of olfaction in humans, a line of research which, in fact, Doty subsequently followed up. 

Bronson, F.H. Chemical Communication in House Mice and Deer Mice Functional Roles in Reproduction of Wild Populations. In J.F. Eisemberg and D.G. Kleiman eds. Advances in the Study of Mammalian Behavior. Spec. Publ. Amer. Soc. Mammal, vol. 7, p. 198-238 (1983). 

Mueller-Schwarze, D. (1979) Flehmen in the context of mammalian urine communication.- In F.J. Ritter (Ed.), Chemical ecology Odour communication in animals, Elsevier/North Holland Biomedical Press, Amsterdam, pp. 85-96. 

Abstract Progress that has been made in research on the chemical aspects of mammalian semiochemistry over the past decade is discussed on the basis of examples from the most topical problem areas. The chemical characterization of the volatile organic constituents of the urine, anal gland secretions and exocrine gland secretions of rodents, carnivores, proboscids, artiodactyls and primates, and their possible role in the semiochemical communication of these mammals are discussed, with particular emphasis on the advances made in the elaboration of the function of proteins as controlled release carrier materials for the semiochemicals of some of these animals. 

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