Vomeronasal system, LHRH, and sex behaviour

Meredith, Michael; Fernandez-Fewell, Gwendolyn D.

doi:10.1016/0306-4530(94)90048-5

Cited by 59 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Intraventricular administration of mammalian GnRH re stores mating behavior impaired by vomeronasal ablation in inexperienced male hamster [39], This study suggested that vomeronasal inputs stimulate GnRH release respon sible for facilitating mating behavior. Increased GnRH concentrations have been reported in the olfactory bulb of the male goldfish exposed to prostaglandin-treated fe males [40], as well as in microdissected terminal nerves of female newt at the initiation of courtship behavior [41], Whether increased intracerebral GnRH release from TNGnRH cells or other GnRH cell populations is stimulated by pheromones or mating behavior in animals under nat ural conditions has yet to be clarified.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Lesions of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-lmmunoreactive Terminal Nerve Cells: Effects on the Reproductive Behavior of Male Dwarf Gouramis

1997

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Functions of the terminal nerve (TN) are largely unknown. To examine whether gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-immunoreactive TN cells (TN-GnRH cells) are involved in the control of reproductive behavior, effects of lesions of TN-GnRH cells were studied in male dwarf gouramis, Colisa Mia. After bilateral electrolytic lesion, a characteristic impairment was observed in one of the repertoires of male reproductive behavior, nest-building. The occurrence of mating trials in which males showed no nest-building was increased. However, the incidence of nest-building behavior during postoperative trials was not affected by the lesion. No impairment was observed in other reproductive repertoires. These results suggest that (1) TN-GnRH cells are involved in the control of the threshold for nest-building behavior initiation and (2) TN-GnRH cells are not a prerequisite for other aspects of reproductive behavior in the male gouramis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Lesions of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-lmmunoreactive Terminal Nerve Cells: Effects on the Reproductive Behavior of Male Dwarf Gouramis

1997

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“…The absence of copulation in a sub-population of VNO-lesioned male hamsters is not observed if animals have prior sexual experience (Meredith, 1986) or if they have had contact with vaginal secretions (Westberry and Meredith, 2003). In sexually-naïve hamsters, central injections of GnRH rescued copulatory deficits induced by VNO removal, suggesting that activation of neural GnRH pathways is part of the mechanism underling the initial, VNO-based, control of copulation in this species (Meredith and Fernandez-Fewell, 1994). In mice, functional disorganization of the VNO induces high levels of mounting toward male conspecifics (Leypold et al, 2002; Stowers et al, 2002) but this effect was not observed following VNO removal, suggesting that impairment of VNO function throughout early life may be more disruptive than adult VNO removal (Pankevich et al, 2004).…”

Section: Chemosignals and Behavior: Malesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemosignals, hormones and mammalian reproduction

Petrulis

2013

Hormones and Behavior

122

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Many mammalian species use chemosignals to coordinate reproduction by altering the physiology and behavior of both sexes. Chemosignals prime reproductive physiology so that individuals become sexually mature and active at times when mating is most probable and suppress it when it is not. Once in reproductive condition, odors produced and deposited by both males and females are used to find and select individuals for mating. The production, dissemination and appropriate responses to these cues are modulated heavily by organizational and activational effects of gonadal sex steroids and thereby intrinsically link chemical communication to the broader reproductive context. Many compounds have been identified as “pheromones” but very few have met the expectations of that term: a unitary, species-typical substance that is both necessary and sufficient for an experience-independent behavioral or physiological response. In contrast, most responses to chemosignals are dependent or heavily modulated by experience, either in adulthood or during development. Mechanistically, chemosignals are perceived by both main and accessory (vomeronasal) olfactory systems with the importance of each system tied strongly to the nature of the stimulus rather than to the response. In the central nervous system, the vast majority of responses to chemosignals are mediated by cortical and medial amygdala connections with hypothalamic and other forebrain structures. Despite the importance of chemosignals in mammals, many details of chemical communication differ even among closely related species and defy clear categorization. Although generating much research and public interest, strong evidence for the existence of a robust chemical communication among humans is lacking.

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“…Similarly, several individual chemical compounds cause both behavioral and endocrine responses in house mice (Novotny et al 1999b). Many glandular secretions or other sources of body odors cause both kinds of responses in a variety of rodents and other mammals (Johnston 1990;Johnston et al 1999;Meredith and Fernandez-Fewel 1994;Vandenbergh 1983). Rather than call a signal both a primer and a releaser, it seems less confusing to say that the signal has 2 different kinds of effects.…”

Section: Controversial Issues Relating To Types Of Chemical Signals Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Communication in Rodents: From Pheromones to Individual Recognition

Johnston

2003

Journal of Mammalogy

218

149

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In many species of rodents, sense of smell is the most important source of information about the social and nonsocial world. I selectively review the literature on chemical communication in this group, primarily as studied in the laboratory. I start with a discussion of the term ''pheromone,'' the types of chemical signals, and the mechanisms underlying responses to chemical signals. I discuss the chemical complexity of odors in rodents and the significance of multiple sources of odors. Efforts to chemically identify signals are reviewed briefly; some progress, especially with domestic house mice (Mus musculus domesticus), has been made, but new collaborations between chemists and biologists are needed. Three areas of current research are reviewed in detail: the role of the major histocompatibility complex in the production of body odors and the role of these odors in mate choice, the use of odors in kin recognition, and the functions of scent overmarking. both theory and specific hypotheses tested in experiments. Then I review some exciting areas of current research concerning chemical communication in rodents. I also refer to studies of chemical communication in other taxa because I think it is important to integrate ideas, terminology, and concepts across a wide range of species. As in any branch of biology, this kind of comparative approach will, one hopes, result in theories that have broad applicability.

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Vomeronasal system, LHRH, and sex behaviour

Cited by 59 publications

References 34 publications

Lesions of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-lmmunoreactive Terminal Nerve Cells: Effects on the Reproductive Behavior of Male Dwarf Gouramis

Lesions of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-lmmunoreactive Terminal Nerve Cells: Effects on the Reproductive Behavior of Male Dwarf Gouramis

Chemosignals, hormones and mammalian reproduction

Chemical Communication in Rodents: From Pheromones to Individual Recognition

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