Pheromonal control of the hypothalamo-limbic function

引子信息素深刻地影响着哺乳动物的大脑功能，从而诱导哺乳动物的各种生理和行为反应。虽然这种现象早已被记录在案，但对哺乳动物的引子信息素知之甚少。本研究旨在通过研究两种具有代表性的信息素模型，即反刍动物的“雄性效应”信息素和啮齿类动物的“报警”信息素，来全面描述哺乳动物物种中通过信息素进行化学交流的情况。我们研究了这些信息素的产生、感知和神经途径的机制，并试图分离和鉴定负责的分子作为信息素候选者。“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。我们已经揭示了信息素是由位于犁鼻和嗅觉上皮…的V1R受体感知的。更多的嗯。信息素信息随后通过杏仁核传递到下丘脑的弓状核，并刺激Kispeptin神经元，后者被发现在产生GnRH神经分泌的脉动性中起关键作用。在本研究项目期间，我们可以分离和鉴定16种候选信息素物质，其中的混合物具有类似雄性效应的信息素活性。另一方面，警报信息素是一种嗅觉信号，从应激动物发出的信号，将潜在的危险传播给家庭或群体成员。我们已经证实，信息素是一种从供体动物肛周腺体释放出来的水溶性挥发性物质，它被受体的犁鼻器感知，焦虑水平上升，导致风险评估以及防御行为的增加和伴随的自主神经反应的加剧。通过建立警报信息素的生物检测系统，结合声学惊吓反应的测量，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。较少

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