# Olfactory and vomeronasal systems much more integrated than previously thought

**URL:** <https://pheromonetalk.com/t/olfactory-and-vomeronasal-systems-much-more-integrated-than-previously-thought/6246>\
**Category:** Studies & Abstracts\
**Created:** [October 26, 2007, 1:10pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/olfactory-and-vomeronasal-systems-much-more-integrated-than-previously-thought/6246 "2007-10-26T13:10:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Socrates](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Socrates](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Socrates)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 1:10pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/olfactory-and-vomeronasal-systems-much-more-integrated-than-previously-thought/6246/1 "2007-10-26T13:10:05Z")

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**1:** Horm Behav. 😉 2007 Sep 4; [Epub ahead of print]  
**The combined role of the main olfactory and vomeronasal systems in social communication in mammals.**  
[**Kelliher KR**](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Kelliher%20KR%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus).  
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID83844, USA.  
The main olfactory and the vomeronasal systems are the two systems by which most vertebrates detect chemosensory cues that mediate social behavior. Much research has focused on how one system or the other is critical for particular behaviors. This has lead to a vision of two distinct and complexly autonomous olfactory systems. A closer look at research over the past 30 years reveals a different picture however. These two seemingly distinct systems are much more integrated than previously thought. One novel set of chemosensory cues in particular (MHC Class I peptide ligands) can show us how both systems are capable of detecting the same chemosensory cues, through different mechanisms yet provide the same general information (genetic individuality). Future research will need to now focus on how two seemingly distinct chemosensory systems together detect [pheromones](https://pheromonelabs.com/) and mediate social behaviors. Do these systems work independently, synergistically or competitively in communicating between individuals of the same species?  
PMID: 17959176 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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**Author:** ![Socrates](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Socrates](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Socrates)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2007, 1:11pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/olfactory-and-vomeronasal-systems-much-more-integrated-than-previously-thought/6246/2 "2007-10-26T13:11:49Z")

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**1:** Curr Opin Neurobiol.](javascript:AL\_get(this,%20’jour’,%20’Curr%20Opin%20Neurobiol.')😉 2007 Aug;17(4):483-9. Epub 2007 Aug 20. ]([http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/utils/fref.fcgi?PrId=3048&itool=AbstractPlus-def&uid=17709238&db=pubmed&url=http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0959-4388(07)00095-5](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/utils/fref.fcgi?PrId=3048&itool=AbstractPlus-def&uid=17709238&db=pubmed&url=http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0959-4388(07)00095-5))[Links](javascript:PopUpMenu2\_Set(Menu17709238)😉  
**Mammalian pheromone sensing.**  
**Zufall F** ([http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=“Zufall%20F”[Author]&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed\_ResultsPanel.Pubmed\_RVAbstractPlus](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Zufall%20F%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus)), **Leinders-Zufall T** ([http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=“Leinders-Zufall%20T”[Author]&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed\_ResultsPanel.Pubmed\_RVAbstractPlus](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Leinders-Zufall%20T%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus)).  
Department of Physiology, University of Saarland School of Medicine, Kirrberger Strasse, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany.  
The traditional distinction that the mammalian main olfactory system recognizes general odor molecules and the accessory (vomeronasal) system detects pheromones is no longer valid. The emerging picture is that both systems have considerable overlap in terms of the chemosignals they detect and the effects that they mediate. Recent investigations have discovered large families of pheromonal signals together with a rich variety of specific receptor systems and nasal detection pathways. Selective genetic targeting of these subsystems should help to unravel their biological role in pheromone-mediated behavioral responses.  
PMID: 17709238 [PubMed - in process]