Facts, fallacies, fears, and frustrations with human pheromones.
Facts, fallacies, fears, and frustrations with human pheromones.
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DOI：
10.1002/ar.a.20125
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发表时间：
2004-11
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
C. Wysocki;G. Preti
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
C. Wysocki;G. Preti
在一般灵长类动物中，信息素对社会交流的重要性各不相同。关于人类的数据产生了关于信息素通信存在的最大争议。在这篇评论中，信息素通信在人类中的可能性进行评估与讨论的化学化合物产生的腋窝，可能作为信息素的功能;犁鼻器（VNO），一个假定的信息素受体器官在许多其他哺乳动物，在人类中的功能的可能性;和信息素在人类中运作的可能方式。在人类腋窝中，皮肤微生物菌群和腋窝分泌物之间的相互作用使该区域类似于其他灵长类动物中发现的气味腺。腋窝分泌物的化学性质及其对人类同种的影响似乎与其他哺乳动物信息素系统类似。尽管化合物在人类中起到信息素的作用，另一个未知的是受体。虽然VNO在许多脊椎动物中与信息素的接收有关，但它并不是这些信息进入中枢神经系统的唯一途径;有足够的证据支持嗅觉上皮可以对信息素做出反应的观点。此外，如果化学物质激活VNO内的受体，这并不一定意味着该化合物是信息素。对人类的一个重要警告是，在其他非灵长类哺乳动物的功能性VNO中通常发现的关键组分缺乏，这表明人类VNO不以其他哺乳动物所描述的方式发挥作用。从更广泛的角度来看，信息素可以分为引物，信号，调节剂和释放剂。有很好的证据支持前三种在人类中的存在。例子包括对月经周期的影响（引物效应）;母亲对新生儿的嗅觉识别（信号）;个体可能根据情绪散发不同的气味（暗示调制器效应）。然而，没有很好的证据表明成年人中的激光效应。需要强调的是，没有生物测定指导的研究导致了真正的人类信息素的分离，这一步骤将阐明人类化学信号的特定功能。
Among primates in general, pheromones are of variable importance to social communication. Data on humans have generated the greatest controversy regarding the existence of pheromonal communication. In this review, the likelihood of pheromonal communication in humans is assessed with a discussion of chemical compounds produced by the axilla that may function as pheromones; the likelihood that the vomeronasal organ (VNO), a putative pheromone receptor organ in many other mammals, is functional in humans; and the possible ways pheromones operate in humans. In the human axilla, the interactions between the cutaneous microflora and axillary secretions render this region analogous to scent glands found in other primates. Both the chemistry of axillary secretions and their effects on conspecifics in humans appear to be analogous to other mammalian pheromone systems. Whichever chemical compounds serve a pheromonal function in humans, another unknown is the receptor. Although the VNO has been implicated in the reception of pheromones in many vertebrates, it is not the only pathway through which such information has access to the central nervous system; there is ample evidence to support the view that the olfactory epithelium can respond to pheromones. Furthermore, if a chemical activates receptors within the VNO, this does not necessarily mean that the compound is a pheromone. An important caveat for humans is that critical components typically found within the functioning VNO of other, nonprimate, mammals are lacking, suggesting that the human VNO does not function in the way that has been described for other mammals. In a broader perspective, pheromones can be classified as primers, signalers, modulators, and releasers. There is good evidence to support the presence of the former three in humans. Examples include affects on the menstrual cycle (primer effects); olfactory recognition of newborn by its mother (signaler); individuals may exude different odors based on mood (suggestive of modulator effects). However, there is no good evidence for releaser effects in adult humans. It is emphasized that no bioassay-guided study has led to the isolation of true human pheromones, a step that will elucidate specific functions to human chemical signals.