Brennan Peter A, Keverne Eric B
Sub-Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Cambridge, High St., Madingley, Cambridge CB3 8AA, UK.
Curr Biol. 2004 Jan 20;14(2):R81-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2003.12.052.
Olfaction is the dominant sensory modality for most animals and chemosensory communication is particularly well developed in many mammals. Our understanding of this form of communication has grown rapidly over the last ten years since the identification of the first olfactory receptor genes. The subsequent cloning of genes for rodent vomeronasal receptors, which are important in pheromone detection, has revealed an unexpected diversity of around 250 receptors belonging to two structurally different classes. This review will focus on the chemical nature of mammalian pheromones and the complementary roles of the main olfactory system and vomeronasal system in mediating pheromonal responses. Recent studies using genetically modified mice and electrophysiological recordings have highlighted the complexities of chemosensory communication via the vomeronasal system and the role of this system in handling information about sex and genetic identity. Although the vomeronasal organ is often regarded as only a pheromone detector, evidence is emerging that suggests it might respond to a much broader variety of chemosignals.
嗅觉是大多数动物主要的感觉方式，化学感应通讯在许多哺乳动物中尤其发达。自首个嗅觉受体基因被鉴定以来，在过去十年里，我们对这种通讯形式的理解有了迅速的增长。随后对啮齿动物犁鼻器受体基因的克隆，这些受体在信息素检测中很重要，揭示了大约250种属于两个结构不同类别的受体的意外多样性。这篇综述将聚焦于哺乳动物信息素的化学性质以及主嗅觉系统和犁鼻器系统在介导信息素反应中的互补作用。最近使用基因改造小鼠和电生理记录的研究突出了通过犁鼻器系统进行化学感应通讯的复杂性以及该系统在处理有关性别和基因身份信息方面的作用。尽管犁鼻器通常仅被视为一个信息素探测器，但越来越多的证据表明它可能对种类宽泛得多的化学信号作出反应。
