Mice missing VNO receptor genes

Pheromone Science Studies & Abstracts
1

Deficient pheromone responses in mice lacking a cluster of vomeronasal receptor genes : Nature

Deficient pheromone responses in mice lacking a cluster of vomeronasal receptor genes

Karina Del Punta1, Trese Leinders-Zufall2, Ivan Rodriguez1,3, David Jukam1, Charles J. Wysocki4, Sonoko Ogawa1, Frank Zufall2 and Peter Mombaerts1
Top of pageThe mammalian vomeronasal organ (VNO), a part of the olfactory system, detects pheromones—chemical signals that modulate social and reproductive behaviours1, 2. But the molecular receptors in the VNO that detect these chemosensory stimuli remain undefined. Candidate pheromone receptors are encoded by two distinct and complex superfamilies of genes, V1r and V2r (refs 3 and 4), which code for receptors with seven transmembrane domains. These genes are selectively expressed in sensory neurons of the VNO. However, there is at present no functional evidence for a role of these genes in pheromone responses. Here, using chromosome engineering technology5, we delete in the germ line of mice a

http://www.nature.com/__chars/math/special/sim/black/med/base/glyph.gif

600-kilobase genomic region that contains a cluster of 16 intact V1r genes6. These genes comprise two of the 12 described V1r gene families7, and represent

http://www.nature.com/__chars/math/special/sim/black/med/base/glyph.gif

12% of the V1r repertoire. The mutant mice display deficits in a subset of VNO-dependent behaviours: the expression of male sexual behaviour and maternal aggression is substantially altered. Electrophysiologically, the epithelium of the VNO of such mice does not respond detectably to specific pheromonal ligands. The behavioural impairment and chemosensory deficit support a role of V1r receptors as pheromone receptors.

2

Good thing I’m not into getting romantically involved with Minnie…

3

Haha Rbt!:smiley:

I get the feeling that the VNO is active to some extent in humans but it is not the be all and end all to pheromone responses. A1 and Est, which are the widest studied VNO activators in humans, share certain unique properties on the respective sex whose VNO they target (A1 on women, Est on men). They are both generally very relaxing and comforting to their ‘target’ sex, an effect that no other pheromone is able to replicate to the same extent. Anyway that’s my speculation - as James Kohl says there is no proper research to suggest that the VNO is active. However instead of just giving up on testing pheromones for VNO activation, more research needs to be done on pheromones that target it (which I believe the poster ‘Archetypal Hybrid’ on LS is doing). There could be certain effects that VNO activator pheromones (like A1 and Est) share and we should identify these patterns.

Anyway keep the research posts coming Quirk (and any others)!

Visionary

4

I want to second that thought, Visionary. Research posts are much appreciated.