Pheromones Tami Kopperud Catherine Miller Jacqueline Sheppard

Definition: Chemicals produced and emitted by animals and plants as messengers that affect the behavior of other individuals of the same species. Chemicals produced and emitted by animals and plants as messengers that affect the behavior of other individuals of the same species. Derived from Greek words pherein, to transfer and hormon, to excite. Derived from Greek words pherein, to transfer and hormon, to excite.

Who uses them? Insects - Moths Insects - Moths Other Invertebrates – Spiders, Ants Other Invertebrates – Spiders, Ants Vertebrates – Mice, Goldfish Vertebrates – Mice, Goldfish Other animals Other animals

What are the messages for? Finding a Mate Finding a Mate Taking Advantage of Food Resources – Aggregation Taking Advantage of Food Resources – Aggregation Defense Against Predation Defense Against Predation Social Behaviors Social Behaviors

Foraging Imported Red Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) Uses a complex trail pheromone in order to find food Uses a complex trail pheromone in order to find food First ant on the scene finds food First ant on the scene finds food Releases pheromone to mark Releases pheromone to mark the trail back to the nest

Other ants find the trail and follow it to the food source Other ants find the trail and follow it to the food source Recruited ants leave a trail signal of their own Recruited ants leave a trail signal of their own Value of food source judged by number of trails Value of food source judged by number of trails Good food = Lots of trails Good food = Lots of trails

The ant uses five different pheromones: The ant uses five different pheromones: 4-heptanone 4-heptanone 2-methyl 4 heptanone 2-methyl 4 heptanone 6-methyl-5 heptene-2- one 6-methyl-5 heptene-2- one 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2- pentanone 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2- pentanone Iridodial Iridodial Iridomyrmecin Iridomyrmecin 6-methyl-5 hepten-2-one

Prey Capture Some animals mimic pheromones to trick prey Some animals mimic pheromones to trick prey Bolas Spider (Mastophora hutchinsoni) mimics the mating pheromone of the moth Bolas Spider (Mastophora hutchinsoni) mimics the mating pheromone of the moth When the male moth searches for a suitable female… When the male moth searches for a suitable female…

The hungry spider is waiting The hungry spider is waiting No need to track food, food comes to you No need to track food, food comes to you The Bolas spider mimics the sex pheromone of two different types of moths The Bolas spider mimics the sex pheromone of two different types of moths

Mating Goldfish have no defined territories Goldfish have no defined territories Females spawn among vegetation Females spawn among vegetation Males fight in order to get close enough to fertilize the females’ eggs Males fight in order to get close enough to fertilize the females’ eggs Pheromones are chemicals emitted to communicate reproductive readiness and stimulate other behaviors Pheromones are chemicals emitted to communicate reproductive readiness and stimulate other behaviors

Female goldfish release two sets of pheromones ; preovulatory and postovulatory Female goldfish release two sets of pheromones ; preovulatory and postovulatory Male goldfish can discriminate among the steroid components of preovulatory pheromones because each steroid elicits a distinctive pattern of behavior Male goldfish can discriminate among the steroid components of preovulatory pheromones because each steroid elicits a distinctive pattern of behavior For 1720BP –low-level behavioral effects which last through exposure to the steroid For 1720BP –low-level behavioral effects which last through exposure to the steroid For 1720BP-S –higher levels of courtship were seen For 1720BP-S –higher levels of courtship were seen For androstenedione – aggressive behavior was seen in males. For androstenedione – aggressive behavior was seen in males.

According to a study by Dr. Poling, males regulate seminal fluid and sperm production in response to stimulatory pheromones from ovulatory females, but also in response to unknown stimulatory and inhibitory cues from male competitors. According to a study by Dr. Poling, males regulate seminal fluid and sperm production in response to stimulatory pheromones from ovulatory females, but also in response to unknown stimulatory and inhibitory cues from male competitors.

Dr. Olsen from Uppsalla University in Sweden has shown the crucian carp (closely related to the goldfish) share the same system with hormonal pheromones. Dr. Olsen from Uppsalla University in Sweden has shown the crucian carp (closely related to the goldfish) share the same system with hormonal pheromones. Salmon also release odors which effect behavior, sex hormone levels and sperm volumes. Salmon also release odors which effect behavior, sex hormone levels and sperm volumes. Dr. Olsen wants to see if hormonal pheromones act as barriers for hybridization Dr. Olsen wants to see if hormonal pheromones act as barriers for hybridization

Social Behavior Mice use pheromones for social and reproductive behavior Mice use pheromones for social and reproductive behavior The main pheromones are 2-sec-butyl-4,5- dihydrothiazole The main pheromones are 2-sec-butyl-4,5- dihydrothiazole and 3,4-dehydro-exo- brevicomin

MUPs Pheromones are excreted in urine from mice bound to major urinary proteins (MUPs). Pheromones are excreted in urine from mice bound to major urinary proteins (MUPs). MUPs are a group of semiochemical binding proteins that carry the mouse pheromones. MUPs are a group of semiochemical binding proteins that carry the mouse pheromones. The MUP is made of a small protein and a ligand with room in the middle for the pheromone molecule. The MUP is made of a small protein and a ligand with room in the middle for the pheromone molecule. All parts of the MUP are considered to have pheromonal affects. All parts of the MUP are considered to have pheromonal affects.

2-sec.butyl-4,5- dihydrothiazole represents an example of mouse pheromones. The molecule was found to bind to proteins excreted into urine (major urinary proteins). 2-sec.butyl-4,5- dihydrothiazole represents an example of mouse pheromones. The molecule was found to bind to proteins excreted into urine (major urinary proteins). Among approximately of a dozen of major urinary proteins, the protein classified as MUP-I, is one of the most abundant. Among approximately of a dozen of major urinary proteins, the protein classified as MUP-I, is one of the most abundant.

VNO Vomeronasal organ (VNO) contains receptor sites to detect pheromones. Vomeronasal organ (VNO) contains receptor sites to detect pheromones. Found in the nasal cavities of mice and many other animals. Found in the nasal cavities of mice and many other animals. VNO is anatomically and functionally distinct from the olfactory system VNO is anatomically and functionally distinct from the olfactory system

Pheromones Modulate Social & Reproductive Behavior in Mice Social Behaviors Social Behaviors Male vs. Male Aggression Male vs. Male Aggression Nursing Female vs. Mice Aggression Nursing Female vs. Mice Aggression Navigation Aids A mouse sniffing at urine scent "posts" left by another mouse. The scent marks of male mice appear to act as "scarecrows" in the dark, when mice are normally active. A mouse sniffing at urine scent "posts" left by another mouse. The scent marks of male mice appear to act as "scarecrows" in the dark, when mice are normally active.

Bibliography Solenopsis invicta (Red Fire Ant) Solenopsis invicta (Red Fire Ant) The trail pheromone of the Red Imported Fire Ant The trail pheromone of the Red Imported Fire Ant Chemical ecology in the red imported fire ant Chemical ecology in the red imported fire ant Hubbard P.C., Barata E.N., and Canario A.V.M, Possible disruption of pheromonal communication by humic acid in goldfish, Aquatic Toxicology, 60 (2002) Hubbard P.C., Barata E.N., and Canario A.V.M, Possible disruption of pheromonal communication by humic acid in goldfish, Aquatic Toxicology, 60 (2002) Poling, K.R., Fraser E.J., and Sorenson, P.W., The three steroidal components of the goldfish preovulatory pheromone signal evoke different behaviors, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B 129(2001) Poling, K.R., Fraser E.J., and Sorenson, P.W., The three steroidal components of the goldfish preovulatory pheromone signal evoke different behaviors, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B 129(2001) Stacey N., Fraser E.J, Sorenson, P., Van Der Kraak, G., Milt production in goldfish: regulation by multiple social stimuli, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C 130(2001) Stacey N., Fraser E.J, Sorenson, P., Van Der Kraak, G., Milt production in goldfish: regulation by multiple social stimuli, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C 130(2001)

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