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OLFACTORY COMMUNICATION IN MAMMALS

OLFACTORY COMMUNICATION IN MAMMALS. Mammalogy EEOB 625 9 February 2004. Olfactory Communication In Vertebrates Pheromone is a chemical released by one individual that elicits a response in one or more individuals of the same species Common in vertebrates except birds

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OLFACTORY COMMUNICATION IN MAMMALS

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  1. OLFACTORY COMMUNICATION IN MAMMALS Mammalogy EEOB 625 9 February 2004

  2. Olfactory Communication In Vertebrates • Pheromone is a chemical released by one • individual that elicits a response in one • or more individuals of the same species • Common in vertebrates except birds • Source of chemical in the “sender” • Chemosensory tissues in the “receiver” • Criterion for pheromone status for a • chemical? Effective in the absence of all other • stimuli from the source individual

  3. Sites of Pheromone Production • Skin Glands: sternal, ano‑genital, hip, foot, pre‑orbital, tarsal, mandibular, chest • Saliva and secretions of the oral angle gland • Urine & feces (with preputial & anal glands) • Examples:Castor canadensis ‑ castor & anal glands and the anal glands of mustelids

  4. The mammalian skin: A major source of pheromones • Epidermis: the pheromonally functional part of skin (dermis: the structural part) • Derivatives of the epidermis • Hair - guard hairs & underfur, vibrissae, follicles, piloerector muscles, and nerves • Skin glands: •  1. Sebaceous glands: oil glands of hair follicles • 2. Eccrine ‑ sweat glands • 3. Apocrine ‑ odor producing glands

  5. Epidermis Dermis

  6. Sebaceous Ecrine Apocrine

  7. Chemoreception and the response to pheromones • Olfactory epithelium of nasal turbinates & the main olfactory system – perception of odor • External Nares & perception of direction • Factors in sensitivity to odors & pheromones • Vomeronasal organ(Jacobson's Organ) Sensitive to both volatile and non-volative chemeicals Important in detection of sex pheromones Flehmen behavior in ungulates

  8. Typical Mammal Human

  9. (VNO) Vascular sinus

  10. Properties & Types of Pheromones • Chemical Properties: volatile & non-volatile compounds: e.g., amines, carboxylic acids, & fatty acids (important?) • Signaling pheromone – Definition & examples: Broadcast scent marking ‑ "territorial" & individual and Family recognition Sexual attractants: estrous females • Priming pheromone: definition & examples: • Reproductive activation: puberty & estrous cycles Response to pheromones: hypothalamus, pituitary, & ? • Reproductive activation in the gray short-tailed opossum

  11. Pheromonal Activation of Reproduction in Female Opossums Females in estrus

  12. Supra-sternal gland of male opossum

  13. Phermomonal Induction of Puberty in Opossums Pheromonal Exposure(from 90 days) Direct Indirect Isolated N 22 22 12 Estrus 22 13 0 Days at Estrus 127 162 (none at 180) Weight (g) 61 59 (61, nonestrus) at 1st Estrus Stonerook & Harder (1992)

  14. Ovarian follicle diameter Juvenile body weight

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