Sex differences in main olfactory system pathways involved in psychosexual function

Abstract

We summarize literature from animal and human studies assessing sex differences in the ability of the main olfactory system to detect and process sex-specific olfactory signals ("pheromones") that control the expression of psychosexual functions in males and females. A case is made in non primate mammals for an obligatory role of pheromonal signaling via the main olfactory system (in addition to the vomeronasalaccessory olfactory system) in mate recognition and sexual arousal, with male-specific as well as female-specific pheromones subserving these functions in the opposite sex.Although the case for an obligatory role of pheromones in mate recognition and mating among old world primates, including humans, is weaker, we review the current literature assessing the role of putative human pheromones (eg, AND, EST, "copulin"), detected by the main olfactory system, in promoting mate choice and mating in men and women. Based on animal studies, we hypothesize that sexually dimorphic effects of putative human pheromones are mediated via main olfactory inputs to the medial amygdala which, in turn, transmits olfactory information to sites in the hypothalamus that regulate reproduction.K E Y W O R D S accessory olfactory system, chemosignal, human, main olfactory bulb, main olfactory epithelium, main olfactory system, medial amygdala, mouse, pheromone, sex difference, sexual behavior

Detection dogs as a help in the detection of COVID-19 Can the dog alert on COVID-19 positive persons by sniffing axillary sweat samples ? Proof-of-concept study

“…Pheromones are defined as substances produced by on animal which conveys information to other individuals by olfactory means (59). And in such a situation androsterone and molecules like benzoate derivates, excreted in axillary sweat, enhance sexual attraction by men toward women near the end of follicular phase of the menstrual cycle when fertility is at highest (60,61).…”

Pathogens, odors, and disgust in rodents

“…As such the MOS may also have a key role in the detection of infection associated odors and the expression of olfactory mediated pathogen disgust. In addition, there are sex differences in these pathways, and in particular the MOS, that could potentially contribute to the male female differences in the detection of sensory cues and possibly the expression of disgust ( Cherry and Baum, 2020 ).…”

“…Olfactory information from the AOS and MOS is conveyed to the MeA where non-volatile olfactory information from the vomeronasal pathway is integrated with volatile cues from the main olfactory epithelium to elicit appropriate behavioral responses ( Cherry and Baum, 2020 ; Holy, 2018 ). In addition, the anterior and posterolateral cortical amygdala regions respond to information conveyed about both attractive and aversive urinary volatiles ( Root et al, 2014 ).…”

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“…Accordingly, the largest part of the mammalian genome is occupied by genes encoding the olfactory receptors (approximately 900 genes in mice and 1500 genes in humans) [ 170 ]. Although in humans the sense of smell is less important for everyday life as, for example, hearing or vision, it represents an important constituent of gustatory and visual perception, psychosexual functions, aggression and fear learning, attraction and aversion behaviors, gastrointestinal functions and, via close connections with the limbic system, strongly impacts human emotions and memories [ 28 , 54 , 63 , 77 , 90 , 134 , 138 , 151 ].…”