Identity and Neural Encoding of Social Odors

摘要 哺乳动物使用信息素寻找配偶，调节生殖，并组织社会行为。这个 从自然来源提纯的新信息素的鉴定，一再引发新的发现 关于对社会行为至关重要的基因、细胞和回路。 最近，我的实验室在雄鼠尿液中发现了两种新的信息素。这些信息素 在至少一种行为中起着至关重要的作用，那就是青少年女性青春期的加速。然而，有几个 这些新信息素的特征以及检测到它们的神经元的反应表明， 角色。这些新化合物中存在的结构线索暗示了一种以前未被怀疑的机制 检测涉及多个感觉系统、受体基因、回路机制和代谢途径。 我们建议(1)确定同时涉及挥发性和非易失性线索的多感觉复合体 协调这些重要线索的发现、检测和识别，(2)确定涉及的受体基因 在它们的检测和随后的行为中，以及(3)测试固定的电路特征是否有助于 适当的行为反应的产生和可塑性。我们相信，新的机遇由 这些新的信息素将为探索哺乳动物的基本调控机制提供新的工具 生理和行为。

ABSTRACT Mammals use pheromones to find mates, regulate reproduction, and organize social behavior. The identification of new pheromones, purified from natural sources, has repeatedly triggered new discoveries about the genes, cells, and circuits essential for social behavior. Recently, my lab identified two novel pheromones present in male mouse urine. These pheromones play an essential role in at least one behavior, the acceleration of puberty in juvenile females. However, several features of these new pheromones, and the responses of the neurons that detect them, suggest an even wider role. Structural clues present in these new compounds hint at a previously-unsuspected mechanism for their detection involving multiple sensory systems, receptor genes, circuit mechanisms, and metabolic pathways. We propose to (1) determine whether a multisensory complex involving both volatile and nonvolatile cues coordinate the discovery, detection, and recognition of these vital cues, (2) identify the receptor genes involved in their detection and consequent behaviors, and (3) test whether stereotyped circuit features contribute to the production and plasticity of suitable behavioral responses. We believe that the new opportunities afforded by these novel pheromones will provide new tools to probe fundamental mechanisms regulating mammalian physiology and behavior.