| Title: | Steroidal pheromones and their potential target sites in the vomeronasal organ |
| Author(s): | Rodewald A; Mills D; Gebhart VM; Jirikowski GF; |
| Address: | "Institute of Anatomy II, University Hospital, Jena, Germany. Electronic address: Andrea.Rodewald@med.uni-jena.de. School of Life Science, University of Lincoln, UK. Institute of Anatomy II, University Hospital, Jena, Germany" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.steroids.2017.09.010 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1878-5867 (Electronic) 0039-128X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | Steroids are important olfactory signals in most mammalian species. The vomeronasal organ has been suspected to be the primary target of pheromones. In rat vomeronasal sensory neurons express steroid binding proteins and nuclear receptors. Some binding globulins were found also in single ciliated cells of the non-sensory vomeronasal epithelium. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed VDR in olfactory microvilli and DPB in apical membrane protrusions of supporting sells within the sensory epithelium. Pilot behavioral studies with dogs showed increased sniffing duration upon exposure to low concentrations of vitamin D while higher concentrations were less effective. It has been shown that vitamin D has pheromone-like properties in lizards. Our histochemical and behavioral observations indicate that the mammalian vomeronasal organ may be a vitamin D target. Olfactory functions of vitamin D involve most likely rapid membrane mediated effects rather than actions through nuclear receptors |
| Keywords: | Animals Brain/*metabolism Olfactory Bulb/*metabolism Steroids/*metabolism Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives/*metabolism Vomeronasal Organ/*metabolism Nuclear steroid receptors Pheromones Steroid binding globulins Vitamin D Vomeronasal organ; |
| Notes: | "MedlineRodewald, Andrea Mills, Daniel Gebhart, Veronika M Jirikowski, Gustav F eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review 2017/10/01 Steroids. 2019 Feb; 142:14-20. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2017.09.010. Epub 2017 Sep 28" |
