Journal
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
Volume 96, Issue 4-5, Pages 749-752Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.12.006
Keywords
Acoustic startle reflex; Alarm pheromone; Anxiogenic effect; Pheromone chemical; Rat
Categories
Funding
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) [15GS0306, 11563, 5683]
- Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research [15GS0306] Funding Source: KAKEN
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The volatility of an alarm pheromone in male rats. PHYSIOL BEHAV 00(0) 000-000, 2008. We previously reported that an alarm pheromone released from the perianal region of male rats is perceived by the vomeronasal organ and evokes stress-induced hyperthermia and defensive and risk assessment behavior. In addition, we recently reported that the alarm pheromone enhances the acoustic startle reflex (ASR). However, in contrast to our knowledge about such biological aspects of the pheromone, information concerning the physical character of the alarm pheromone is extremely limited. In this study, we investigated the volatility of the alarm pheromone using enhancement of the ASR as an index of the pheromone effect. The alarm pheromone enhanced the ASR when it was presented at a distance of 10 mm but not at 200 mm. In addition, the pheromone effect was observed even after the pheromone was trapped in the adsorbent (Tenax) and then extracted using purified water. These results suggest that the alarm pheromone is both volatile and water soluble. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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