title: Electrophysiological evidence for detection and discrimination of pheromonal bile acids by the olfactory epithelium of female sea lampreys ( Petromyzon marinus).
abstract: Electro-olfactograms were used to determine sensitivity and specificity of olfactory organs of female sea lampreys ( Petromyzon marinus) to four bile acids: 3-keto petromyzonol sulfate and 3-keto allocholic acid from spermiating males and petromyzonol sulfate and allocholic acid from larvae. Spermiating male bile acids are thought to function as a mating pheromone and larval bile acids as a migratory pheromone. The response threshold was 10(-12) mol l(-1) for 3-keto petromyzonol sulfate and 10(-10) mol l(-1) for the other bile acids. At concentrations above 10(-9) mol l(-1), the sulfated bile acids showed almost identical potency, as did the non-sulfated bile acids. The two sulfated bile acids were more potent than the two non-sulfated ones. In addition, 3-keto petromyzonol sulfate and water conditioned with spermiating males induced similar concentration-response curves and response thresholds. Cross-adaptation experiments demonstrated that the sulfated and non-sulfated bile acids represent different odors to the olfactory epithelium of females. Further exploration revealed that 3-keto petromyzonol sulfate represents a different odor than petromyzonol sulfate, while 3-keto allocholic acid and allocholic acid represent the same odor. Results indicate that male-specific bile acids are potent and specific stimulants to the female olfactory organ, supporting the previous hypothesis that these bile acids function as a pheromone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Siefkes
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007798:Lampreys; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D010675:Pheromones