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Chem Senses

Title:		Decreased perception of bourgeonal may be linked to male idiopathic infertility
Author(s):		Sinding C; Kemper E; Spornraft-Ragaller P; Hummel T;
Address:		"Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany. csinding@gmail.com"
Journal Title:		Chem Senses
Year:		2013
Volume:		20130327
Issue:		5
Page Number:		439 - 445
DOI:		10.1093/chemse/bjt009
ISSN/ISBN:		1464-3553 (Electronic) 0379-864X (Linking)
Abstract:		"Regarding the chemotaxis of sperms, new insights have been gained during the last 20 years. Olfactory receptors are expressed on the flagellar midpiece of human spermatogenic cells. One of them, OR1D2, is also expressed in the olfactory epithelium. This receptor has been suggested to play a role in sperm chemotaxis and thus in fertility. As OR1D2 is activated by bourgeonal, the aim of the study was to investigate whether patients with idiopathic infertility would exhibit a decreased olfactory sensitivity toward bourgeonal. Participants were 14 patients with idiopathic infertility and 23 controls (all young fathers). After having ascertained normosmia, odor thresholds and intensity ratings for the pleasant and flowery odors of bourgeonal, helional, and phenylethylalcohol were obtained. As a result, patients had specifically decreased intensity ratings for bourgeonal. It suggests that men with unexplained infertility tend to be less suprathreshold sensitive toward the odor of bourgeonal but not to that of other floral odors. It may be speculated that the decreased olfactory sensitivity relates to a decreased functionality of OR1D2, which in turn may be linked to idiopathic infertility"
Keywords:		"Adult Aldehydes/*analysis Case-Control Studies Humans Infertility, Male/metabolism/pathology/*physiopathology Male Odorants/*analysis *Olfactory Perception Receptors, Odorant/metabolism Seminal Plasma Proteins/metabolism Sensory Thresholds Sperm Motility;"
Notes:		"MedlineSinding, Charlotte Kemper, Eva Spornraft-Ragaller, Petra Hummel, Thomas eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2013/03/29 Chem Senses. 2013 Jun; 38(5):439-45. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjt009. Epub 2013 Mar 27"