Pheromonal control of the hypothalamo-limbic function

引物信息素深刻地影响着哺乳动物的脑功能，从而诱发各种生理和行为反应。虽然这种现象早已被记录在案，但人们对哺乳动物的引物信息素知之甚少。本文以反刍动物的“雄性效应”信息素和啮齿类动物的“报警”信息素两种具有代表性的信息素模型为研究对象，对哺乳动物通过信息素进行化学通讯的过程进行了全面的研究。我们研究了这些信息素的产生、感知、神经通路的机制，并试图分离和鉴定信息素候选分子。“雄性效应”是一种信息素引起的性腺激活，在绵羊和山羊中尤其广为人知。下丘脑GnRH脉冲发生器是信息素作用的目标。我们发现信息素是由位于犁鼻上皮和嗅觉上皮的V1R受体感知的。然后，信息素信息通过杏仁核传递到下丘脑弓状核，刺激kisspeptin神经元，该神经元在GnRH神经分泌的脉动性中起关键作用。在本项目研究期间，我们分离鉴定了16种候选信息素物质，其中混合物具有“雄性效应”信息素样活性。另一方面，“警报”信息素是一种嗅觉信号，是压力大的动物发出的，用于向家庭或群体成员传播潜在危险。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出来，被受者的粪鼻器官感知，其焦虑水平升高，导致风险评估增加，防御行为增加，并伴有自主神经反应加剧。通过建立报警信息素的生物检测系统，测量声惊吓反应，我们可以分离出一种候选信息素物质，目前正在对其化学结构进行研究。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