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Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Title:		Mouse alarm pheromone shares structural similarity with predator scents
Author(s):		Brechbuhl J; Moine F; Klaey M; Nenniger-Tosato M; Hurni N; Sporkert F; Giroud C; Broillet MC;
Address:		"Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1005 Lausanne, Switzerland"
Journal Title:		Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Year:		2013
Volume:		20130304
Issue:		12
Page Number:		4762 - 4767
DOI:		10.1073/pnas.1214249110
ISSN/ISBN:		1091-6490 (Electronic) 0027-8424 (Print) 0027-8424 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Sensing the chemical warnings present in the environment is essential for species survival. In mammals, this form of danger communication occurs via the release of natural predator scents that can involuntarily warn the prey or by the production of alarm pheromones by the stressed prey alerting its conspecifics. Although we previously identified the olfactory Grueneberg ganglion as the sensory organ through which mammalian alarm pheromones signal a threatening situation, the chemical nature of these cues remains elusive. We here identify, through chemical analysis in combination with a series of physiological and behavioral tests, the chemical structure of a mouse alarm pheromone. To successfully recognize the volatile cues that signal danger, we based our selection on their activation of the mouse olfactory Grueneberg ganglion and the concomitant display of innate fear reactions. Interestingly, we found that the chemical structure of the identified mouse alarm pheromone has similar features as the sulfur-containing volatiles that are released by predating carnivores. Our findings thus not only reveal a chemical Leitmotiv that underlies signaling of fear, but also point to a double role for the olfactory Grueneberg ganglion in intraspecies as well as interspecies communication of danger"
Keywords:		"Animals Behavior, Animal/*drug effects Mice Olfactory Bulb/*metabolism Pheromones/*chemistry/metabolism/*pharmacology;"
Notes:		"MedlineBrechbuhl, Julien Moine, Fabian Klaey, Magali Nenniger-Tosato, Monique Hurni, Nicolas Sporkert, Frank Giroud, Christian Broillet, Marie-Christine eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2013/03/15 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Mar 19; 110(12):4762-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1214249110. Epub 2013 Mar 4"