Title: | Pheromone-induced second messenger signaling in the hamster vomeronasal organ |
Author(s): | Kroner C; Breer H; Singer AG; O'Connell RJ; |
Address: | "Institut fur Zoophysiologie, Universitat Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany" |
DOI: | 10.1097/00001756-199611250-00038 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0959-4965 (Print) 0959-4965 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Compounds present in estrous hamster vaginal discharge modulate male attraction and mounting behavior. These compounds are differentially processed by chemosensory neurons in the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) and vomeronasal organ (VNO). The transduction cascade responsible for this processing is unclear in the VNO, although studies of the MOE suggest that the second messengers cAMP or IP3 may be involved. Here we demonstrate that purified aphrodisin, a hamster mounting pheromone, modulates IP3 production in male VNO membranes without altering cAMP production. Aphrodisin does not alter the concentration of either second messenger in membranes from the MOE. These results confirm the specificity of the VNO in the processing of mounting pheromones and establishes the importance of IP3 cascades in mammalian reproductive behavior" |
Keywords: | Animals Chemoreceptor Cells/drug effects/physiology Cricetinae Female In Vitro Techniques Kinetics Male Nasal Septum/drug effects/*physiology Olfactory Mucosa/drug effects/physiology Olfactory Receptor Neurons/drug effects/*physiology Pheromones/*pharmaco; |
Notes: | "MedlineKroner, C Breer, H Singer, A G O'Connell, R J eng DC 00131/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ HD 19764/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. England 1996/11/25 Neuroreport. 1996 Nov 25; 7(18):2989-92. doi: 10.1097/00001756-199611250-00038" |