Natural Ligands of Hamster Aphrodisin

The chemical nature of vertebrate pheromones remains largely to be deciphered. Hamster aphrodisin is a rare instance of mammal proteinaceous sexual pheromone. This protein, found in vaginal secretions, facilitates the mounting behaviour of males via activation of a specialized sensory structure name...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemical senses 2004-06, Vol.29 (5), p.425-430
Main Authors: Briand, Loïc, Blon, Florence, Trotier, Didier, Pernollet, Jean-Claude
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
aphrodisin
Biological and medical sciences
Chemical Sciences
Chromatography, Gas
Cricetinae
Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
hamster
Ligands
Male
Mammals
Mass Spectrometry
Olfactory Pathways - physiology
Olfactory system and olfaction. Gustatory system and gustation
Other
pheromone
Pheromones - chemistry
Pheromones - genetics
Pheromones - metabolism
Proteins - chemistry
Proteins - metabolism
Sex Attractants - chemistry
Sex Attractants - genetics
Sex Attractants - physiology
Sexual Behavior, Animal - physiology
Vagina - metabolism
Vagina - secretion
vaginal secretion
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
vomeronasal organ
Vomeronasal Organ - metabolism
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Summary:The chemical nature of vertebrate pheromones remains largely to be deciphered. Hamster aphrodisin is a rare instance of mammal proteinaceous sexual pheromone. This protein, found in vaginal secretions, facilitates the mounting behaviour of males via activation of a specialized sensory structure named the vomeronasal organ, which activates the accessory olfactory bulb. Since it might carry small pheromonal ligands due to its lipocalin structure, we analysed organic extracts from natural aphrodisin. We identified five predominant compounds specifically bound onto natural aphrodisin as 1-hexadecanol (44.7%), 1-octadecanol (19.5%), Z-9-octadecen-1-ol (18.2%), E-9-octadecen-1-ol (15.4%) and hexadecanoic acid (2.2%). Interestingly, these compounds are also described as part of insect pheromone blends, disclosing the continuing story of amazing coincidences of chemical communication shared by mammals and insects.
ISSN:0379-864X
1464-3553
1464-3553
DOI:10.1093/chemse/bjh044