Vaginal secretion

In support of this contention, the carrier protein Aphrodisin makes an early appearance in vaginal secretions. In pre-pubertal hamsters, it thus indicates chemosensory preparation for the onset of female maturity (Magert, 1999). The proven ability of the AOS to modulate the CNS-pituitary-gonadal axis by advancing or retarding endocrine activity (Chap. 5), underlines its role as primarily the chemosensor of the reproductive system. The adaptive consequence of responses, which allows an avoidance of premature breeding, or of a postponement of puberty, would seem to be advantageous. 

Fig. 5.8(c) VN-x male hamsters and inhibition of T.-response induced by vaginal secretions, experienced and inexperienced Ss. (from Johnston, 1992). 

Hormonal influences may be limited to sexually relevant cues, since not all scent marks are socially relevant in all situations (Petrulis et al., 1995 and 1997). Chemoinvestigation by male hamsters of the female-indicator compound DMDS was independent of T. and did not differ from that of females. In contrast, the frequency of chemoinvestigation by castrates to vaginal secretion (containing DMDS) was enhanced by T. intact males investigated FHVS five times more than they do the females. 

Fischer R. and Brown P. (1993). Vaginal secretions increase the likelihood of inter-male aggression in Syrian hamsters. Physiol Behav 54, 213-214. 

Macrides F., Johnson P.A. and Schneider S.P. (1977). Responses of the male golden hamster to vaginal secretion and dimethyl disulfide attraction versus sexual behaviour. Behav Biol 20, 377-386. 

Stevens K., Perry G.C. and Long S.E. (1982). Effect of ewe urine and vaginal secretions on ram investigative behaviour. J Chem Ecol 8, 23-29. 

Presence of white blood cells in vaginal secretions... 

Durfee MA, Forsyth PS, Hale JA, Holmes KK Ineffectiveness of erythromycin for treatment of Haemophilus vagina/w-associated vaginitis Possible relationship to acidity of vaginal secretions. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1979 16 635-637. 

Axillary odour might not be the only olfactory cue to women s reproductive status. Due to the cyclic fluctuations in composition of vaginal secretion one may expect similar changes in vaginal odour. This was demonstrated thirty years ago by Doty, Ford, Preti and Huggins (1975). However, as we have suggested previously, we believe that due to bipedality the axillary odour is of higher importance in humans (Havlicek et al. 2006). 

Michael, R.P., Bonsall, R.W. and Kutner, M. (1975) Volatile fatty acids, copulins , in human vaginal secretions. Psychoneuroendocrino. 1, 153-163. 

Wolrath, H., Stahlbom, B., Hallen, A. and Forsum, U. (2005) Trimethylamine and trimethylamine oxide levels in normal women and women with bacterial vaginosis reflect a local metabolism in vaginal secretion as compared to urine. APMIS 113, 513-516. 

Johnston, R. E. (1975) Sexual excitation function of hamster vaginal secretion. Anim. Learn. Behav. 3, 161-6. 

Kwan, M. and Johnston, R. E. (1980) The role of vaginal secretion in hamster sexual behavior males responses to normal and vaginectomized females and their odors. J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 94, 905-13. 

Powers, J. B., Fields, R. B. and Winans, S. S. (1979) Olfactory and vomeronasal system articipation in male hamsters attraction to female vaginal secretions. Physiol. Behav. 22, 77-84. 

Murphy, M. R. (1980) Sexual preferences of male hamsters importance of preweaning and adult experience, vaginal secretion, and olfactory or vomeronasal sensation. Behav. Neural Biol. 30, 323-340. 

A component of the vaginal secretion, dimethyl disulfide, was found to be the major sex attractant of the golden hamster [ 59 ]. Volatile alcohols, fatty acids and, interestingly, dimethyl trisulfide in the secretion do not appear to enhance the attractancy of the secretion [60]. However, proteins in the mass range of 15-16 kDa that are present in the vaginal secretion act as a mounting pheromone [61]. No comprehensive chemical characterization of the semiochemical secretions of golden hamsters has yet been undertaken. 

Oestradiol and progesterone regulate the structural and functional changes in oviducts, uterus, cervix and vagina that occur during the menstrual cycle. They provide conditions in the oviduct for the upward motility of sperm, and the downward movement of ova, and also conditions favourable for fertilisation in the oviduct and implantation in the uterus. Another effect is to stimulate vaginal secretions. 

Species recognition Responses to vaginal secretion marks Main olfactory system... 

Golden hamster M Mating Vaginal secretion elicits Clancy eta/., 1984... 

Singer, A. G., Agosta, W. C., O Connell, R. J., etal, (1976). Dimethyl disulfide an attrac-tant pheromone in hamster vaginal secretion. Science 191,948-950. 

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