Identification of an Olfactory Signal Molecule that Activates the Central Regulator of Reproduction in Goats
Identification of an Olfactory Signal Molecule that Activates the Central Regulator of Reproduction in Goats
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DOI：
10.1016/j.cub.2014.01.073
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发表时间：
2014-03-17
期刊：
影响因子：
9.2
通讯作者：
Mori, Yuji
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Murata, Ken;Tamogami, Shigeyuki;Mori, Yuji
信息素信号调节同种行为和生理[1]。释放信息素通过对神经元反应施加急性效应来诱导特定行为，而引物信息素通过改变受体的神经内分泌状态来诱导具有持久效应的生理变化。在哺乳动物中，虽然已经鉴定了几种类型的引物信息素[2-5]，但引物信息素的身份以及它们的作用机制在很大程度上仍然未知[6]。在绵羊和山羊中，雌性动物的季节性不发情的内分泌状态在暴露于雄性气味时改变为发情状态[7，8]。这种所谓的“雄性效应”是哺乳动物中最明显的引物信息素效应之一[9，10]。在这项研究中，我们已经确定了一个嗅觉信号分子，激活生殖的中央调节器，促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）脉冲发生器，在山羊。利用气相色谱-质谱联用技术分析了公山羊顶空挥发物，鉴定出几种乙基支链醛酮类化合物。我们的电生理学证明，这些化合物之一，4-乙基辛醛，激活雌山羊的GnRH脉冲发生器。这是第一次报道一种嗅觉分子被证明可以激活中央生殖轴，这一发现将为引物信息素研究提供新的方向。
Pheromone signals regulate conspecific behavior and physiology [1]. Releaser pheromones induce specific behavior by exerting acute effects on the neuronal response, whereas primer pheromones induce physiological changes with long-lasting effects by changing the neuroendocrine status of the recipients. In mammals, although several types of releaser pheromones have been identified [2-5], the identities of primer pheromones, as well as their mechanisms of action, remain largely unknown [6]. In sheep and goats, the seasonally anestrous endocrine state of females is changed to the estrous state upon exposure to male scents [7, 8]. This so-called "male effect" is one of the most conspicuous primer pheromone effects in mammals [9, 10]. In this study, we have identified an olfactory signal molecule that activates the central regulator of reproduction, the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator, in goats. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze male goat headspace volatiles, we identified several ethyl-branched aldehydes and ketones. We electrophysiologically demonstrated that one of these compounds, 4-ethyloctanal, activates the GnRH pulse generator in female goats. This is the first report of an olfactory molecule that has been shown to activate the central reproductive axis, and this discovery will provide a new direction for primer pheromone research.