Pheromones mammalian

Liman E., Corey D. and Dulac C. (1999). TRP-2 a candidate transduction channel for mammalian pheromone sensory signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci 96, 5791-5796. 

Abstract A relatively small number of mammalian pheromones has been identified, in contrast to a plethora of known insect pheromones, but two remarkable Asian elephant/insect pheromonal linkages have been elucidated, namely, (Z)-7-dodecen-1-yl acetate and frontalin. In addition, behavioral bioassays have demonstrated the presence of a chemical signal in the urine of female African elephants around the time of ovulation. Our search for possible ovulatory pheromones in the headspace over female African elephant urine has revealed for the first time the presence of a number of known insect pheromones. This search has been facilitated by the use of a powerful new analytical technique, automated solid phase dynamic extraction (SPDE)/GC-MS, as well as by novel macros for enhanced and rapid comparison of multiple mass spectral data files from Agilent ChemStation . This chapter will focus on our methodologies and results, as well as on a comparison of SPDE and the more established techniques of solid phase microextraction (SPME) and stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE). 

Compared to the large number of chemical signals identified in insects, only a small number of proven mammalian pheromones are known, two of which have been identified in elephants (Albone 1984 Brown and Macdonald 1985 Wyatt 2003 Burger 2005). Female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) release a... 

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. 

Mice are a favorite experimental animal for scientists interested in mammalian pheromones they are easy to breed they have well-defined genetic backgrounds and they rely on pheromones in a number of ways. My former colleague at Indiana University, Milos Novomy, did the first definitive work on mammalian pheromones in the house mouse. He has identified a number of primer pheromones in the urine of male mice that accelerate puberty and induce estrus in female mice. ... 

The earliest definitive reports of mammalian pheromones are reported in M. Novotny et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 82 2059-2061 (1985) B. Jemiolo, S. Harvey, and M. Novotny, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83 4576-4579 (1986). 

The well-known boar pheromone was not only one of the first mammalian pheromones identified, but also the first one applied commercially. The saliva from the submaxillaiy gland contains two steroids. These are 5a-androst-16-en-3-one and So -androst-lS-en-So -ol (Fig. 7.8). They are emitted during head-to-head contact in courtship. Both individually stimulate the sow to assume the mating stance, but a mixture of the two is not more active than either compound (Melrose etal., 1971). This may be a case of adaptive redundancy. 

Miiller-Schwarze, D., Miiller-Schwarze, C., Singer, A. G., and Silverstein, R. M. (1974). Mammalian pheromone identiflcation of active compound in the subauricular scent of the male pronghorn. Science 183 860-862. 

Mammalian Pheromones An Area Neglected by Applied Biologists and Pesticide Chemists... 

Another reason for the relative lack of interest in mammalian pheromones lies in the fact that - apart from the use in perfumes - only one actual application of mammalian pheromones is known so far. This is not in connection with a pest but with a very useful animal, the domestic pig (5). The saliva and sweat glands of the sexually aroused boar contain two steroids with a musky smell, A16 androstenol and A16-androstenone. These are actual pheromones emitted by the male and eliciting a characteristic behaviour in the female. Sows in heat react to the scent of these compounds by assuming a characteristic copulating stance. 

The major part of mammalian pheromone research, much of which is mentioned in recent books and symposium proceedings (5-10) is not directed to any application. Trappers, however, have used mammalian secretions in their lures long before the... 

Recent reviews of mammalian semiochemicals89 and of mammalian pheromones8,90,91 have appeared. Vandenbergh groups mammalian pheromones into various categories, which we have used here as a basis for organization into three main and four subcategories ... 

R. L. Doty, Mammalian Pheromones Fact or Fantasy In Handbook of Olfaction and Gustation, 2nd ed. R. L. Doty, Ed. Informa Healthcare London, 2003 Chapter 17, pp 571-630. 

There are many mammalian examples of single molecules or cocktails of a few molecules that elicit dramatic behavioural effects. Such substances are often referred to as releaser pheromones, whereas chemosignals that cause longer term changes in neuroendocrine or developmental state are usually referred to as primer pheromones. Some examples of mammalian pheromones and their effeets are illustrated in Fig. (14) [252],... 

Fig. (14). Examples of mammalian pheromones. (A) flic rabbit nipple search pheromone is a single molecule pre.scnt in tlie milk of lactating does 2541. (B) Two similar androgen derivatives are found at high...

Mammalian pheromones released into their environment can readily reach their target tissue, either the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) or the VNO. Both target tissues are lined with an olfactory neuroepithelium that contains membrane-bound receptor proteins, which comprise the largest known family of G-protein-coupled [262] receptors in mammals. The number of mammalian olfactory receptors [263-265] found has been astonishing, but not unreasonable. The MOE and VNO have some common features, but also significant difierences in neuron types, primary structures of receptor proteins and signal transduction [266]. 

R.L. Doty, Mammalian pheromones fact or fantasy . In R.L. Doty, Editor, Handbook of Olfaction and Gustation, Marcel Dekker Inc. 2003, 34-38. 

---