Pheromones

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Leslie Vosshall June 2, 2008
Pheromones and Animal Behavior
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June 2 Lecture (PPT available online)
http//njc.rockefeller.edu/VosshallBN08.php
June 9 Presentations (PDFs available June 5)
http//njc.rockefeller.edu/VosshallBN08.php
Jeff Liesch
Andres Bendesky
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Suggested Reading
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What do you look for in a perfect mate?
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
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What do you look for in a perfect mate?

1. Same species
2. Opposite sex
3. Sexually mature
4. Still fertile
5. Good social standing
6. Good genes
7. Alive
8. Not a sibling
9. Not a parent
10. Receptive
11. Available

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The Problem Nocturnal moths
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• Formula for the perfect social signal
• Cheap to transmit
• Cheap to receive
• Discreet
• Selective
• Effective in the dark/barriers
• Long-range
• Long-lasting
• Easy homing/identification

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VISUAL
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AUDIO
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CHEMICAL
Brennan Keverne, Curr. Biol. 14R81R89 (2004)
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What is a Pheromone?
defined chemical signal between members of the
same species, eliciting a particular behavior or
physiological change...
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Broader Definition Pheromones
any chemical signal conveying information
between members of the same species
Recognition of Individuals or KinDifferences
between signals essential
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Pheromones
Health and Fitness Mate Choice/ Sexual
Selection Mate Selection to Avoid Incest/Genetic
Relatedness Sexual Maturation Successful
Fertilization (Aquatic Animals) Kin
Recognition Caste and Reproductive Status (Social
Animals) Menstrual Synchrony Maternal-Infant
Bonding Infant SucklingNipple Recognition Dominan
ce Hierarchy Aggression Territory and Trail
Marking Deception (Plant-gtAnimal) Deception
(Animal-gtAnimal) Aggregation Intruder Alarm
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Semiochemicals Infochemicals
Pheromones(Communcation within species) Both
Sender Receiver benefit
Allelochemicals Between species
SynomonesBoth Sender Receiver Benefit
Kairomones Receiver Benefits(Sender does not)
Allomones Sender Benefits(Receiver does not)
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Primer Pheromones
Wyatt Book
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Putative evolution of Pheromones
Wyatt Book
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Pheromones Odor Imprinting
Wyatt Book
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Pheromones and behavior (phenomenology)
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Silkmoth Bombyx mori
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(No Transcript)
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Sex (Releaser) Pheromones
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Mate Quality Courtship Pheromones
monocrotaline pyrrolizidine alkaloids
hydroxydanaidal
Wyatt Book
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Marking Behavior-Mara rodent
Wyatt Book
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Pheromones-Dominance Hierarchy
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Dauer pheromones-C.elegans
High Density/Limiting Food
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Alarm Pheromones
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Marking Behavior-desert ant
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Trail Marking-leaf cutter ant
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Marking, Territorial Behavior-Badger
Wyatt Book
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Mimicry Pheromones Subverted for Deception
Australian orchid D. glyptodon traps male
Z.Trilobatus wasps
Bolas spiders vs. moths
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Mate Quality MHC (mice)
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Mate Quality MHC (human)
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Models for the MHC Effect 1. The MHC molecule
hypothesis (MHC fragments in urine and sweat) 2.
The peptide hypothesis (MHC peptide metabolites
in urine) 3. The microflora hypothesis (MHC
shapes allele-specific populations of commensal
microbes) 4. The carrier hypothesis (MHC carries
volatile aromatics, including those produced by
bacteria) 5. The peptide-microbe hypothesis (MHC
alters odor by restricting peptides available to
commensal bacteria)
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MHC Class I Peptides as Chemosensory Signals in
the Vomeronasal Organ Trese Leinders-Zufall et
al. Science 3061033-1037, 2004
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Coolidge Effect (Remating with arrival of new
potential mate) Bruce Effect (Pregnancy block
when exposed to foreign male) Vandenbergh
Effect (Males accelerate puberty in young
females) Whitten Effect (Males induce oestrus in
adult females) Lee-Boot Effect (Group-housed
females show suppressed oestrus oestrus
synchronized by contact with males)
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Pheromone chemistry
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Where do pheromones come from? Urine Sweat Tears
Other glands
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Pheromone-Producing Glands-Insects
Wyatt Book
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Pheromone-Producing Glands-Mammals
Wyatt Book
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Luo, Fee, and Katz,Science 299 1196-1201, 2003
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Manduca sexta female pheromone blend
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Sex Pheromones
Wyatt Book
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Mouse mammary pheromone(THE FIRST VERIFIED
MAMMALIAN PHEROMONE)

• Schaal et al., Nature 424, 68-72 , 2003

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Schaal et al., Nature 424, 68-72 , 2003
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Encoding social signals in the mouse main
olfactory bulb(CHEMICAL CUES CAN BEEXTREMELY
POTENT)

• Lin et al., Nature 434470-477, 2005

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Lin et al., Nature 434, 470 - 477, 2005
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Identification of protein pheromones that promote
aggressive behaviour.

• Chamero et al., Nature 450899-902, 2007

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Chamero et al., Nature 450899-902, 2007
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Chamero et al., Nature 450899-902, 2007
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Chamero et al., Nature 450899-902, 2007
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Chamero et al., Nature 450899-902, 2007
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The first chemically isolated pheromone (from
70,000 female silk moths Butenandt, 1952)
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C. elegans dauer pheromone
(- )-6R-(3'R, 5'R-dihydroxy-6'S-methyltetrahydro-p
yran-2'R-yloxy) heptanoic acid
Jeong et al., Nature 433541, 2005.
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Pheromone reception (neural circuitry)
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Olfaction vs. Pheromone Perception (vertebrates)
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Vomeronasal or Jacobsons Organ (VNO)
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Brennan Keverne, Curr. Biol. 14R81R89 (2004)
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Brennan Keverne, Curr. Biol. 14R81R89 (2004)
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The information from the V1Rs and V2Rs, which is
processed separately in the AOB, converges in
completely overlapping projections to the bed
nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), bed
nucleus of the accessory olfactory tract (BAOT),
medial amygdala (MeA) and the posteromedial
cortical nucleus (PMCo) of the amygdala.
Brennan Keverne, Curr. Biol. 14R81R89 (2004)
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Olfaction vs. Pheromone Perception (invertebrates)
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Male Insect Antennae Specialized to Detect
Female Pheromones
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In the fly brain, a few glomeruli in the antennal
lobe are sexually dimorphic in size
Image taken from Kondoh et al. (2003)
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Datta et al., Nature 452473-477, 2008
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Pheromone receptors
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Odorant Receptors (vertebrate)
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Pheromone Receptors (vertebrate)
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V1R expressed with Gai and TRP2
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V2R expressed with Gao and TRP2 (and MHC M10)
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Pheromone Receptors (invertebrate)
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come to me
go away
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Nakagawa et al., Science 2005
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Nakagawa et al., Science 2005
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??
??
Ha and Smith, Cell 133761-763, 2008
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Pheromone reception (humans)
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(No Transcript)
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Sequential Sensory Decisions in Sexual
Courtship Correct Species? Correct
Gender? Sexually Receptive? Other Quality
Control Criteria (usually monitored by
Females) Size? Strength? Other indicators of good
gene pool?
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PHEROMONES IN HUMANS?

• Kin recognition-family member vs. partner

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PHEROMONES IN HUMANS?

• Kin recognition-partner vs. stranger

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PHEROMONES IN HUMANS?

• Kin recognition-mother/child

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PHEROMONES IN HUMANS?

• Menstrual synchrony

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Stern McClintock Nature 1998 392177
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Realm Men by Realm Pheromone for Men
Realm Pheromones Women by Realm Pheromone for
Women
Realm, the fragrances with human pheromones.
Only Realm adds this extra dimension of human
Pleasure. Awaken your sixth sense. Experience
REALM. Contains human pheromones.
Active Ingredient androstenone (pig pheromone)
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www.scientificmatch.com
Cheek swab and 1995
The 6 benefits of scientific matching Chances
are increased that youll love the natural body
fragrance of your matches. You have a greater
chance of a more satisfying sex life. Women
tend to enjoy a higher rate of orgasms with their
partners. Women have a much lower chance of
cheating in their exclusive relationships.
Couples tend to have higher rates of fertility.
All other things being equal, couples have a
greater chance of having healthier children with
more robust immune systems
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http//www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/231116662
3111666
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Please contact me if you have any questions about
my lecture. Leslie Vosshall leslie_at_mail.rockefelle
r.edu June 2, 2008