Endocrine regulation of the pheromone-responsive system in the newt.

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K18570
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Morphology/Structure
• Research Institution: Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University
• Principal Investigator: Nakada Tomoaki 日本獣医生命科学大学, 獣医学部, 講師 (50549566)
• Research Collaborator: KIKUYAMA Sakae ; TOYODA Fumiyo ; MATSUDA Kouhei ; HASUNUMA Itaru ; NAKAKURA Takashi ; YAMAMOTO Kazutoshi ; TOMINAGA Atsushi
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 性フェロモン / 性行動 / 内分泌調節 / 鋤鼻器官 / ソデフリン / イモリ / アイモリン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Previously, we isolated a decapeptide pheromone (sodefrin) from the abdominal glands of the male red-bellied newts (Cynops pyrrhogaster). Sodefrin plays an important role in keeping the female attracted to the male until the sperm transfer has been successfully completed.
In this study, endocrine regulations of the pheromone-responsive neurons were analyzed, and a novel peptide pheromone in sexually developed female was discovered. This pheromone has an activity to prompt the sexually developed males to commence courtship behavior toward the females. This is the first female sexual attractiveness peptide pheromone to be identified in a vertebrate. The finding of sex pheromones emitted by both reproductive male and female newts is expected to make it possible to analyze neural pathways and mechanisms involved in transferring the signals of both pheromones and transforming the pheromonal signals into the sexual behaviors in the newts of both sexes.

Free Research Field

比較内分泌学