Pheromonal influences on the endocrine regulation of reproduction

doi:10.1016/0166-2236(83)90170-4

Trends in Neurosciences

Volume 6, 1983, Pages 381-384

https://doi.org/10.1016/0166-2236(83)90170-4 Get rights and content

Abstract

Male pheromones have long been recognized for their influence on the reproductive physiology of female mice, ranging from advancement of puberty to induction of synchronized oestrus in grouped females and the olfactory block to pregnancy. All of these pheromones are effective via the accessory olfactory system, with their receptors in the vomeronasal organ. Moreover, all have a common neuroendocrine mechanism resulting in decreased prolactin secretion. This being the case, the necessity to hypothesize several types of pheromone becomes redundant. All that is required is a pheromone complex representing ‘maleness’. The olfactory block to pregnancy requires this pheromone complex to have a different composition between strains, since only pheromones from individuals of a strain different to that of the stud male are effective. Likewise, recognition and memory of the stud is essential in preventing his block to pregnancy. Such recognition, we suggest, involves an olfactory ‘imprint’ dependent upon noradrenergic mechanisms.

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Cited by (139)

Androstenone induces horses to be more compliant with human–horse interactions
2022, Journal of Veterinary Behavior
Citation Excerpt :
We speculate that the lack of change 5 minutes before testing may have been due to insufficient time for the animals to respond to the androstenone, as the behaviors of horses treated with high (10 μg/mL) concentrations of androstenone 30 minutes after application were significantly changed. Several studies have demonstrated that pheromone elicits changes in endocrine status and behavioral changes in the recipient through several processes (Fernandez-Fewell and Meredith, 1995; Johnston, 1998; Keveme, 1983). Therefore, 5 minutes may not be long enough to trigger behavioral changes in the horses.
Olfactory signals play an essential role in communication in animals. Pheromones are volatile or nonvolatile chemicals that trigger social responses among animals. Therefore, pheromone treatment could, in theory, be used to modify horse behavior to improve human–horse relationships. Androstenone (5α-androst-16-en-3-one) is a steroidal pheromone found in the saliva of boars and elicits responses across species. However, its role in horse behaviors is not elucidated. This study investigated the effect of androstenone on horse behavior. Trainability (lowering head and moving hindfeet) and calmness tests (standing still with or without a stimulator) were performed with or without applying androstenone diluted with jojoba oil. Treatment with 10 μg/mL of androstenone applied 30 minute before the tests significantly decreased the time for the horses to lower their head compared with the control. The results of the calmness tests had no significant differences compared with the control group. In the pressure mediation test for trainability assessment, a group of horses treated with 10 μg/mL of androstenone moved their hind feet in a significantly shorter time (P < 0.05) than the control group. As a result, androstenone appears to induce horses to be more accepting of general management and training.
Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of chemical volatiles in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) urine
2013, Theriogenology
Citation Excerpt :
Chemical identification of several mammalian urinary cues has been paid much attention in the recent years. The pheromonal cues excreted through feces, urine, vaginal secretions, saliva, and specialized scent glands play a significant role in sexual and social behavior [1]. In cattle, it has been reported that bulls can detect pheromone odors and can differentiate between estrus and non-estrus urine and vaginal fluid [2–4].
Isolation of active fraction and characterization of chemosignals from urine have been attempted in several mammalian species in the recent years. The objective of this study was to identify the urinary volatiles across various reproductive stages of buffalo cow, namely, estrus, diestrus, and pregnancy, and in bull, by chemical extraction followed by gas chromatography–linked mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Urine samples were collected from six buffalo cows at two different phases of estrous cycle, namely, estrus and diestrus. Besides, urinary samples were collected from five pregnant buffalo cows (60–75 days after artificial insemination (AI)) and six adult bulls. Thin-layer chromatography was performed as a preliminary test for qualitative comparison of different compounds extracted by organic solvents. Identification of the urinary compounds was carried out in a gas chromatograph (Perkin Elmer, Autosystem XL) linked to a mass spectrometer (Turbomass). The results of GC-MS analysis indicated the presence of 21 compounds with varying molecular weights and retention time, which were further categorized as diestrus-specific, pregnancy-specific, and bull-specific urinary compounds. No compound, however, could be identified as estrus-specific. We concluded that qualitative differences do exist in estrus, diestrus, and pregnant buffalo cow urine and in bull urine, as evidenced by GC-MS.
The evolution of pheromonal communication
2009, Behavioural Brain Research
Small-brained rodents have been the principle focus for pheromonal research and have provided comprehensive insights into the chemosensory mechanisms that underpin pheromonal communication and the hugely important roles that pheromones play in behavioural regulation. However, pheromonal communication does not start or end with the mouse and the rat, and work in amphibians reveals much about the likely evolutionary origins of the chemosensory systems that mediate pheromonal effects. The dual olfactory organs (the main olfactory epithelium and the vomeronasal organ), their receptors and their separate projection pathways appear to have ancient evolutionary origins, appearing in the aquatic ancestors of all tetrapods during the Devonian period and so pre-dating the transition to land. While the vomeronasal organ has long been considered an exclusively pheromonal organ, accumulating evidence indicates that it is not the sole channel for the transduction of pheromonal information and that both olfactory systems have been co-opted for the detection of different pheromone signals over the course of evolution. This has also led to great diversity in the vomeronasal and olfactory receptor families, with enormous levels of gene diversity and inactivation of genes in different species. Finally, the evolution of trichromacy as well as huge increases in social complexity have minimised the role of pheromones in the lives of primates, leading to the total inactivation of the vomeronasal system in catarrhine primates while the brain increased in size and behaviour became emancipated from hormonal regulation.
Voltage-gated channel properties of epithelial cells in porcine vomeronasal organ
2008, Neuroscience Letters
Bipolar vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs) in the vomeronasal organ (VNO) are believed to detect pheromones in most mammals. The vomeronasal sensory epithelium (VSE) is composed of VSNs and supporting cells. There are morphological differences in VNOs between species. Many electrophysiological experiments have been performed on rodent VSEs but few on other mammals. We therefore investigated voltage-gated channel properties of cells in the porcine VSE using slice whole-cell voltage-clamp techniques. In immunohistochemical study of the porcine VSE, most PGP9.5-immunoreactive cells were found between the middle and basal region, and negative cells were distributed in the apical to middle region. Depolarizing pulses to epithelial cells from −90 mV produced transient inward Na⁺ channel currents and sustained outward K⁺ channel currents with various amplitudes. The distribution of cells having high and low Na⁺ current densities was mostly consistent with the histological distribution of VSNs and supporting cells, respectively. The half-inactivation voltage of voltage-gated Na⁺ channels in supporting cells was 26 mV more negative than that in VSNs. Voltage-gated K⁺ channel currents in both cell types were suppressed by tetraethylammonium to the same extent. VSNs possessed TTX-sensitive voltage-gated Na⁺ channels and Ni²⁺-sensitive T-type Ca²⁺ channels. These results suggest that the histological distribution of porcine vomeronasal epithelial cells is more similar to the dog and goat than to rodents, and that the electrophysiological characteristics of porcine vomeronasal epithelial cells are similar to those of rodents. It is also suggested that porcine VSNs detecting pheromones generate action potentials through these channels.
Identification of putative pheromones in bovine (Bos taurus) faeces in relation to estrus detection
2008, Animal Reproduction Science
Ten different volatile compounds were detected in bovine faeces using three chromatograms. The chemical profiles of estrus faeces were distinguished significantly from other phases by the presence of three specific substances, viz. acetic acid and propionic acid and 1-iodo undecane. The estrus specific synthetic compounds were rubbed onto the genital region of nonestrus animals (dummy cows), and the bulls were allowed to sniff the genital region and observed sexual behaviours. The statistical significance was higher (P < 0.001) in bulls exhibiting repeated flehmen and mounting behaviours towards the mixture of acetic acid, propionic acid and 1-iodo undecane. The bioassay revealed that the fatty acids viz., acetic acid; propionic acid and 1-iodo undecane produced in faeces during estrus appear to be estrus specific. The results suggest that these compounds may be used as estrus indicator in cow, probably involved in bovine biocommunication.
Accessory Olfactory System
2008, The Senses: A Comprehensive Reference
In addition to the main olfactory system, many vertebrates have developed an accessory olfactory system (AOS). The AOS consists of the vomeronasal organ (VNO), a chemoreceptive structure situated at the base of the nasal septum which houses the vomeronasal sensory neurons; the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB), a structure of the forebrain that receives input from the VNO serving as the first processing center of vomeronasal information; and higher olfactory centers that receive direct or indirect information from the AOB. This chapter provides a general overview about the physiology and function of the VNO and AOB.

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Trends in Neurosciences

ReviewPheromonal influences on the endocrine regulation of reproduction

Abstract

Brain Res.

Anim. Behav.

Neuroscience

Pharmacol. Physiol. Behav.

J. Reprod. Fertil.

Q. Rev. Biol.

J. Reprod. Fertil.

J. Reprod. Fertil.

J. Reprod. Fertil.

Endocrinology

J. Comp. Neurol.

Nature (London)

Biol. Reprod.

Review
Pheromonal influences on the endocrine regulation of reproduction