Control of physiological function and behavior by mammalian pheromone

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21228006
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Applied animal science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: MORI Yuji 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科, 教授 (40157871)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TAKEUCHI Yukari 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科, 准教授 (10240730)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): WATANEBE Hidenori 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科, 教授 (00202416) ; OKAMURA Hiroaki (独)農業生物資源研究所, ユニット長 (60213972) ; YAMAGISHI Kimiko (財)東京都医学総合研究所, 主任研究員 (20200602) ; TAKAHASHI Shin-ichirou 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科, 准教授 (00197146) ; ICHIKAWA Masumi (財)東京都医学総合研究所, 副参事研究員 (20124414) ; KABA Hideto 高知大学, 医学部, 教授 (50136371) ; TANIGUCHI Mutsuo 高知大学, 医学部, 助教 (10304677) ; WAKABAYASHI Yoshihiro (独)農業生物資源研究所, 研究員 (00510695) ; KIYOKAWA Yasushi 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科, 助教 (70554484)
• Project Period (FY): 2009-05-11 – 2014-03-31
• Keywords: 機能性物質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Pheromones have powerful effects on animals, inducing specific behaviors or physiological changes to the recipient through brain function. In mammals, pheromones that regulate physiology have yet to be identified conclusively, and their mechanism of action is almost completely unknown. In this study, we identified a volatile molecule, 4-ethyloctanal, as a “male effect” pheromone that activates the central regulator of reproduction in female goats, and a mixture of 4-methylpentanal and hexanal as an alarm pheromone that increases anxiety in other rats. We also found that 4-methylpentanal and hexanal might be detected via the vomeronasal system and via the main olfactory system, respectively.

Free Research Field

農学