Chemosensation and genetic individuality

Singh, Prim B.

doi:10.1530/rep.0.1210529

Cited by 59 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Regarding a mechanism for how the MHC influences body scent, our data are consistent with the peptide hypothesis (Falk et al, 1991) (for review, see Singh et al 1987;Penn and Potts, 1998;Singh, 2001). The peptide hypothesis states that MHC molecules bind to allele-specific subsets of peptides having volatile metabolites that provide the odorants (Singer et al, 1997).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Olfactory Fingerprints for Major Histocompatibility Complex-Determined Body Odors II: Relationship among Odor Maps, Genetics, Odor Composition, and Behavior

et al. 2002

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The olfactory system detects small differences in the composition of natural odorants, made up of hundreds of molecules. Odorous quality is hypothetically represented by a combinatorial code: activation of distinct but overlapping subsets of olfactory receptors resulting in activation of a distinct subset of glomeruli in the main olfactory bulb (MOB). Here we show that modification of a single gene (the K gene of the major histocompatibility locus), which results in a subtle change in the odiferous quality of urine, causes a small but significant change in the composition of urine volatiles and consequently the evoked glomerular activation pattern in the MOB. The magnitude of disparity between urine-evoked glomerular activation patterns is predictive of the extent of (1) the genetic difference among the urine donors, (2) the difference in the chemical composition of urine, and (3) the odor detector's ability to discriminate. These data on natural odors are consistent with the combinatorial code hypothesis and identify subsets of glomeruli that are apt to play a significant role in mediating individual recognition.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Olfactory Fingerprints for Major Histocompatibility Complex-Determined Body Odors II: Relationship among Odor Maps, Genetics, Odor Composition, and Behavior

et al. 2002

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“…This rapid appearance of CNVs shows how quickly structural genomic variation can develop in a species. The pheromone and MHC receptor genes are both members of large families which play roles in sexual selection (Nei et al 1997;Singh 2001). We have observed the enrichment of both of these families in CNVs.…”

Section: Genome Research 1749mentioning

confidence: 68%

Significant gene content variation characterizes the genomes of inbred mouse strains

Cutler¹,

Marshall²,

Chin³

et al. 2007

Genome Res.

108

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The contribution to genetic diversity of genomic segmental copy number variations (CNVs) is less well understood than that of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). While less frequent than SNPs, CNVs have greater potential to affect phenotype. In this study, we have performed the most comprehensive survey to date of CNVs in mice, analyzing the genomes of 42 Mouse Phenome Consortium priority strains. This microarray comparative genomic hybridization (CGH)-based analysis has identified 2094 putative CNVs, with an average of 10 Mb of DNA in 51 CNVs when individual mouse strains were compared to the reference strain C57BL/6J. This amount of variation results in gene content that can differ by hundreds of genes between strains. These genes include members of large families such as the major histocompatibility and pheromone receptor genes, but there are also many singleton genes including genes with expected phenotypic consequences from their deletion or amplification. Using a whole-genome association analysis, we demonstrate that complex multigenic phenotypes, such as food intake, can be associated with specific copy number changes.

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“…42 and 50-53). The MHC is part of the immune system with infection activating the release of MHC antigens and infection may alter these cues (52,53). H. polygyrus infections stimulate host immune responses with an accompanying inflammation of mucosal tissue allowing persistence of infections for Ͼ30 weeks in certain strains of mice (48).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inadvertent social information and the avoidance of parasitized male mice: A role for oxytocin

Kavaliers

Choleris²,

Ågmo³

et al. 2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Social information can be acquired either directly or indirectly from cues inadvertently produced by individuals with similar interests and requirements (''inadvertent social information,'' ISI). These inadvertent cues provide ''public information'' that other individuals can use to guide their behavior. We show here that female mice use olfactory ISI to determine their choice of, and responses to, males and that the use of this ISI involves the gene for oxytocin (OT). Female mice (OT wild type and CF-1 strain) displayed a significant interest in, and choice of, the odors of uninfected males of varying sexual status that were associated with the odors of an another estrous female. This recognition of, and choices for, specific, individual male odors was evident 24 h later. Female mice also distinguished between males subclinically infected with the gastrointestinal nematode parasite, Heligimosomoides polygyrus, and nonparasitized males, displaying aversive responses (analgesia, increased corticosterone) to, and avoidance of, the odors of infected males. The presence of the odors of another estrous female with that of the infected male, which are indicative of potential mate interests, attenuated these aversive responses and resulted in a choice for the odors of infected male. OT genedeficient (knockout) females were impaired in their use of this ISI to modulate their responses to either uninfected males of differing sexual states or infected males. These findings suggest that OT genes are necessary for the processing of inadvertent social information and likely the integration of both direct and indirect social information.

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Chemosensation and genetic individuality

Cited by 59 publications

References 29 publications

Olfactory Fingerprints for Major Histocompatibility Complex-Determined Body Odors II: Relationship among Odor Maps, Genetics, Odor Composition, and Behavior

Olfactory Fingerprints for Major Histocompatibility Complex-Determined Body Odors II: Relationship among Odor Maps, Genetics, Odor Composition, and Behavior

Significant gene content variation characterizes the genomes of inbred mouse strains

Inadvertent social information and the avoidance of parasitized male mice: A role for oxytocin

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