| Title: | Chemical identification of MHC-influenced volatile compounds in mouse urine. I: Quantitative Proportions of Major Chemosignals |
| Author(s): | Novotny MV; Soini HA; Koyama S; Wiesler D; Bruce KE; Penn DJ; |
| Address: | "Institute for Pheromone Research, Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. novotny@indiana.edu" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10886-006-9230-9 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0098-0331 (Print) 0098-0331 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are highly polymorphic loci that encode cell surface proteins, class I and II molecules. They present peptide antigens to T cells and thereby control immunological self/nonself recognition. Increasing evidence indicates that MHC genes also influence odor and mating preferences; however, it is unclear how. Here we report the results of chemical analyses of male mouse urinary odors collected from a variety of mouse strains, including MHC-congenics, recombinants, mutants, and transgenics (i.e., beta2 microglobulin 'knockouts,' which lack class I expression, and transporters associated with antigen processing (TAP) knock-outs). After the identification of volatile odor components by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, the odor profiles of urine samples were analyzed quantitatively by using stir bar sorptive extraction and gas chromatography/atomic emission detection. Results showed that MHC genes influenced the amounts of testosterone-mediated pheromones, sulfur-containing compounds, and several carbonyl metabolites. This is the first report to quantitatively link known mouse pheromones to classical, antigen-binding MHC loci. Surprisingly, these compounds were not influenced by TAP genes, even though these loci are MHC-linked and play a role in peptide presentation. Whereas identification of MHC-determined odorants does not reveal their metabolic origin, some constituents were also present in blood serum, and their levels were not altered by antibiotics" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology Blood/drug effects Blood Chemical Analysis Chromatography, Gas/instrumentation/methods Major Histocompatibility Complex/*physiology Male Mice Mice, Inbred Strains Mice, Mutant Strains Mice, Transgenic Odorants/an;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineNovotny, Milos V Soini, Helena A Koyama, Sachiko Wiesler, Donald Bruce, Kevin E Penn, Dustin J eng Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2006/12/28 J Chem Ecol. 2007 Feb; 33(2):417-34. doi: 10.1007/s10886-006-9230-9. Epub 2006 Dec 27" |
