Pheromonal control of the hypothalamo-limbic function

信息素对哺乳动物的脑功能有着深刻的影响，并能诱导哺乳动物产生各种生理和摄食反应。虽然这种现象早已被记录在案，但对哺乳动物的引物信息素知之甚少。本研究以反刍动物的“雄性效应”信息素和啮齿动物的“报警”信息素两种典型信息素模型为研究对象，旨在全面了解哺乳动物通过信息素进行的化学通讯。我们研究了这些信息素的产生、感知、神经通路的机制，并试图分离和鉴定出信息素候选者的相关分子。“雄性效应”是信息素诱导的性腺激活，这在绵羊和山羊中尤为常见。下丘脑GnRH脉冲发生器是这种信息素作用的目标。我们发现，信息素是由位于犁鼻和嗅觉上皮的V1R受体感知的。 ...更多信息 嗯.信息素信息然后通过杏仁核传递到下丘脑的弓状核，并刺激kisspeptin神经元，这被发现在产生GnRH神经分泌的脉动中起关键作用。本研究期间共分离鉴定出16种候选信息素物质，其中混合物表现出“雄性效应”信息素样活性，而“报警”信息素则是动物应激时发出的一种嗅觉信号，用于向家庭或群体成员传播潜在的危险。我们已经证实，信息素是一种水溶性挥发性物质，从供体动物的肛周腺释放，它被接受者的犁鼻器感知，其焦虑水平升高，导致风险评估增加，以及防御行为和伴随的自主反应加剧。通过建立一个生物测定系统的报警信息素与测量的声学惊吓反应，我们可以分离出一个候选信息素物质，这是目前正在调查其化学结构。少

Primer pheromones profoundly influence the brain function and thereby induce various physiological as well as behavoral responses in mammals. Although such phenomena have long been documented, little is known about mammalian primer pheromones. The present study was conducted in order to draw a comprehensive picture of chemical communication via pheromones in mammalian species by focusing on two representative pheromone models, namely the "male effect" pheromone in ruminants and "alarm" pheromone in rodents. We investigated mechanisms of production, perception, neural pathway of these pheromones, and also tried to isolate and identify responsible molecules as pheromone candidates.The "male effect" is a pheromone-induced gonadal activation, which is particularly well known in sheep and goats. The hypothalamic GnRH pulse generator is the target of this pheromone action. We have revealed that the pheromone is perceived by V1R receptors located at both the vomeronasal and olfactory epitheli … More um. Pheromone information is then transmitted via amygdala to the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and stimulates the kisspeptin neuron, which is found to play a key role in generating the pulsatility of GnRH neurosecretion. During the term of this research project we could isolate and identify 16 candidate pheromone substances, of which mixture shows "male effect" pheromone like activity.The "alarm" pheromone is, on the other hand, an olfactory signal, which is emitted from stressed animal for dissemination of potential dangers to family or group members. We have cralified that the pheromone is a water soluble volatile substance released from the peri-anal gland of the donor animal and it is perceived by the vomeronasal organ of the recipient, of which anxiety level is elevated resulting in the increase of risk-assessment as well as defensive behaviors and exacerbation of accompanying autonomic responses. By establishing a bioassay system for the alarm pheromone with measurement of the acoustic startle response we could isolate a candidate pheromone substance, which is currently under investigation for its chemical structure. Less