Odours male volatile

Larsson M. C., Leal W. S. and Hansson B. S. (2001) Olfactory receptor neurons detecting plant odours and male volatiles in Anomala cuprea beetles (Coleoptera Scarabaeidae). J. Insect Physiol. 47, 1065-1076. 

The heterogeneity of the VN primary neurones is reflected in their modes of chemosensory preferences. The relative binding efficiencies for distinct odourant types onto the membrane sites is indeed functionally partitioned. When urinary fractions from male mice were applied to VN cells of females, stimulation by a lipophilic and volatile odourant fraction activated only the Gi protein-expressing cells. In contrast, Go activation was elicited by one of the lipocalin superfamily the MUP fraction containing an a-2-globulin (Krieger, 1999). This observation... 

Ultra-sound emissions typically occur when male rodents are exposed to female odours or altricial neonates to maternal sources (Whitney, 1974 Conely and Bell, 1978). Without the VNO, sexually inexperienced male mice do not utter emissions at ultra-high frequencies (UHF), whereas those with prior experience vocalise after VN-x, as discussed above (Chap. 5). Female mouse urine contains a unique UHF-eliciting component which is non-volatile but ephemeral (Sipos et al., 1995). The signal is degraded by oxidation and disappears within 15 to 18 hours of deposition. Direct contact with freshly voided urine must occur before males will vocalise (sexually experienced or inexperienced). At least one of the olfactory systems is needed for UHF to be elicited by fresh urine complete deafferentation abolishes the response (Sipos et al., 1993). Exposure to females permits UHF to be elicited by other than chemical cues (Labov and Wysocki, 1989). Nocturnal or cryptic species conceivably use ultrasound to advertise male presence whether this is to deter other males or assist with female location is unclear. 

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