| Title: | Pheromonal activation of vomeronasal neurons in plethodontid salamanders |
| Author(s): | Wirsig-Wiechmann CR; Houck LD; Feldhoff PW; Feldhoff RC; |
| Address: | "Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 S.L. Young Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA. celeste-wirsig@ouhsc.edu" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/s0006-8993(02)03369-3 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0006-8993 (Print) 0006-8993 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Pheromones from the mental glands of male plethodontid salamanders increase sexual receptivity in conspecific females. The pheromone enters the vomeronasal organ during courtship to produce this effect. Vomeronasal neurons from female Plethodon shermani were examined following exposure to male pheromone or saline placed on the nares. Agmatine was used in conjunction with the pheromone to enable immunocytochemical visualization of chemosensory neurons that were activated by the pheromone. Olfactory neurons exposed to pheromone or saline, and vomeronasal neurons exposed to saline did not demonstrate significant labeling. A population of vomeronasal neurons was intensely labeled following exposure to the pheromone. This study suggests that a specific population of vomeronasal neurons in a female plethodontid salamander is responsible for transmitting pheromonal information to the brain to produce modifications in behavior" |
| Keywords: | Animals Female Male Salamandridae Sex Attractants/*analysis/isolation & purification/pharmacology Vomeronasal Organ/*chemistry/drug effects/physiology; |
| Notes: | "MedlineWirsig-Wiechmann, Celeste R Houck, Lynne D Feldhoff, Pamela W Feldhoff, Richard C eng Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Netherlands 2002/10/12 Brain Res. 2002 Oct 18; 952(2):335-44. doi: 10.1016/s0006-8993(02)03369-3" |
