• Search Research Projects
  • Search Researchers
  • How to Use
  1. Back to previous page

Identification of primer pheromones in mammals and elucidation of a neural basis for the pheromone action

Research Project

Project/Area Number 18H05267
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Review Section Broad Section F
Research InstitutionThe University of Tokyo

Principal Investigator

TOUHARA Kazushige  東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 教授 (00280925)

Project Period (FY) 2018-06-11 – 2023-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2023)
Budget Amount *help
¥191,880,000 (Direct Cost: ¥147,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥44,280,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥41,730,000 (Direct Cost: ¥32,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥9,630,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥41,730,000 (Direct Cost: ¥32,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥9,630,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥41,730,000 (Direct Cost: ¥32,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥9,630,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥41,730,000 (Direct Cost: ¥32,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥9,630,000)
Fiscal Year 2018: ¥24,960,000 (Direct Cost: ¥19,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥5,760,000)
Keywordsフェロモン / 嗅覚 / 受容体 / 神経回路 / 生殖
Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to elucidate molecular and neural bases of primer pheromones that induce physiological changes in mammals. In mice, we obtained structural knowledge of pheromone molecules involved in the promotion of sexual maturation and induction and suppression of estrus, and clarified their receptors and neural basis. We found that the molecules are also involved in male-to-male aggression. To identify pheromone molecules involved in pregnancy inhibition, we obtained new knowledge on the mechanism of memory acquisition in mating partners. We identified body odor molecules that change with the sexual cycle in humans, and found that these odors cause physiological and psychological effects.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

哺乳類でのプライマーフェロモン効果の分子神経基盤の解明は、天然物化学、生化学、分子生物学、脳神経科学といった、生物と化学の融合学際領域で学術的波及効果が期待される。フェロモン分子から生殖機能へと至る多階層での理解は、ヒトを含めた哺乳類の生殖制御・機能障害解決に向けて有用な基礎研究基盤となる。体臭を介してお互いの生理・心理が影響しあうという知見は、五感の中でも視聴覚に焦点が行きがちな人間社会で、ヒト同士のコミュニケーションにおいて嗅覚が新しい社会実装ターゲットになる可能性を提供する。

Assessment Rating
Ex-post Assessment Comments (Rating)

A-:  In light of the aim of introducing the research area into the research categories, expected outcomes of research have been produced on the whole though the progress in a part of the research has been delayed.

Assessment Rating
Interim Assessment Comments (Rating)

A: In light of the aim of introducing the research area into the research categories, the expected progress has been made in research.

Report

(8 results)
  • 2024 Ex-post Assessment (Comments) ( PDF )
  • 2023 Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2020 Abstract (Interim Assessment) ( PDF )   Interim Assessment (Comments) ( PDF )
  • 2019 Annual Research Report
  • 2018 Abstract ( PDF )   Comments on the Screening Results ( PDF )   Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (10 results)

All 2019 2018

All Journal Article (3 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 2 results,  Peer Reviewed: 3 results,  Open Access: 2 results) Presentation (7 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 6 results,  Invited: 3 results)

  • [Journal Article] Hypothalamic Neuronal Circuits Regulating Hunger-Induced Taste Modification2019

    • Author(s)
      Fu O, Iwai Y, Narukawa M, Ishikawa AW, Ishii KK, Murata K, Yoshimura Y, Touhara K, Misaka T, Minokoshi Y, Nakajima KI.
    • Journal Title

      Nature Communications

      Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Pages: 4560-4560

    • DOI

      10.1038/s41467-019-12478-x

    • Related Report
      2019 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Contribution of Individual Olfactory Receptors to Odor-Induced Attractive or Aversive Behavior in Mice2019

    • Author(s)
      Horio N, Murata K, Yoshikawa K, Yoshihara Y, Touhara K.
    • Journal Title

      Nature Communications

      Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Pages: 209-209

    • DOI

      10.1038/s41467-018-07940-1

    • Related Report
      2019 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
  • [Journal Article] Neural circuits regulating sexual behaviors via the olfactory system in mice2019

    • Author(s)
      Ishii, K., K. and Touhara., K.
    • Journal Title

      Neuroscience Research

      Volume: 140 Pages: 59-76

    • DOI

      10.1016/j.neures.2018.10.009

    • Related Report
      2019 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Presentation] Neural Circuits for Chemosensory Signalling2019

    • Author(s)
      Kazushige Touhara
    • Organizer
      Gordon Research Conference
    • Related Report
      2019 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] Specific receptors, circuits, and outputs for vomeronasal ligands2019

    • Author(s)
      Takuya Osakada and Kazushige Touhara
    • Organizer
      Annual Meeting for Association for Chemoreception Sciences 2019
    • Related Report
      2019 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Analysis of primer pheromone in mice: ligand to the central action2019

    • Author(s)
      Ken Murata, Sayoko Ihara, Kazunari Miyamichi and Kazushige Touhara
    • Organizer
      The 48th Naito Conference
    • Related Report
      2019 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Hemoglobin in animal blood acts as a chemo-signal via the vomeronasal sensory system2019

    • Author(s)
      Takuya Osakada, Takayuki Abe, Hiromi Mori, Kentaro K. Ishii, Takumi Itakura, Kosuke Saito, Ryo Eguchi, Sachiko Haga-Yamanaka, Hiroko Kimoto, Yoshihiro Yoshihara, Kazunami Miyamichi and Kazushige Touhara
    • Organizer
      The 48th Naito Conference
    • Related Report
      2019 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Neural and receptor basis of male specific pheromone-mediated behavior in male mice2019

    • Author(s)
      Takumi Itakura, Ken Murata and Kazushige Touhara
    • Organizer
      NEURO2019
    • Related Report
      2019 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] Molecular, Receptor, and Neural Basis for Chemosenosry Signal-Mediated Behavior and Emotion in Mice2019

    • Author(s)
      Kazushige Touhara
    • Organizer
      Keystone Symposia Conference "Mammalian Sensory Systems"
    • Related Report
      2018 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited
  • [Presentation] Revealing diverse vomeronasal ligands affecting behavior and emotion in mice2018

    • Author(s)
      Kazushige Touhara
    • Organizer
      International Conference of European Chemoreception Research Organization 2018 (ECRO2018)
    • Related Report
      2018 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research / Invited

URL: 

Published: 2018-06-12   Modified: 2025-04-22  

Information User Guide FAQ News Terms of Use Attribution of KAKENHI

Powered by NII kakenhi