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J Neuroendocrinol

Title:		Modulation of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone pulse generator activity by the pheromone in small ruminants
Author(s):		Murata K; Wakabayashi Y; Kitago M; Ohara H; Watanabe H; Tamogami S; Warita Y; Yamagishi K; Ichikawa M; Takeuchi Y; Okamura H; Mori Y;
Address:		"Department of Animal Resource Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkeyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan"
Journal Title:		J Neuroendocrinol
Year:		2009
Volume:		21
Issue:		4
Page Number:		346 - 350
DOI:		10.1111/j.1365-2826.2009.01836.x
ISSN/ISBN:		1365-2826 (Electronic) 0953-8194 (Linking)
Abstract:		"In small ruminants, such as goats and sheep, a primer pheromone produced by males induces an out-of-seasonal ovulation in anoestrous females, a phenomenon known as the male effect. The male effect is unique in that an external chemical stimulus can immediately modulate the activity of the hypothalamic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator. We have established a monitoring method of the GnRH pulse generator activity in Shiba goat. Using this method as a sensitive bioassay to assess the male effect pheromone activity, we have shown that the male effect pheromone is synthesised in an androgen-dependent manner in the sebaceous glands or their vicinity in specific body regions in goats. Although chemical identity of the pheromone is yet to be determined, analyses of male goat hair extracts by gas chromatography fractionation suggest that the male effect pheromone is a volatile substance with relatively small molecular weight. From morphological and molecular biological studies in goats, it is suggested that the pheromone molecule is detected by a member of the V1R family located on both the olfactory neurones and the vomeronasal sensory neurones, and the pheromone signal is conveyed to the medial nucleus of amygdala via the main olfactory and vomeronasal pathways and, subsequently, to the hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator to enhance its activity"
Keywords:		Amygdala/physiology Androgens/metabolism Animals Biological Assay Female Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/*metabolism Hypothalamus/physiology Male Neural Pathways/physiology Neurons/physiology Olfactory Bulb/physiology *Periodicity Ruminants/*physiology Seb;
Notes:		"MedlineMurata, K Wakabayashi, Y Kitago, M Ohara, H Watanabe, H Tamogami, S Warita, Y Yamagishi, K Ichikawa, M Takeuchi, Y Okamura, H Mori, Y eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review 2009/02/12 J Neuroendocrinol. 2009 Mar; 21(4):346-50. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2009.01836.x"