Androstenol--a steroid derived odor activates the hypothalamus in women.
BACKGROUND
Whether pheromone signaling exists in humans is still a matter of intense discussion. In the present study we tested if smelling of Androstenol, a steroid produced by the human body and reported to affect human behavior, may elicit cerebral activation. A further issue was to evaluate whether the pattern of activation resembles the pattern of common odors.


METHODS
PET measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were conducted in 16 healthy heterosexual women during passive smelling of Androstenol, four ordinary odors (OO), and odorless air (the base line condition).


RESULTS
Smelling Androstenol caused activation of a portion of the hypothalamus, which according to animal data mediates the pheromone triggered mating behavior. Smelling of OO, on the other hand, engaged only the classical olfactory regions (the piriform cortex, lateral amygdala, anterior insular and anterior cingulate cortex).


CONCLUSIONS
The observed pattern of activation is very similar to the pattern previously detected with 4,16-androstadien-3-one in heterosexual females. It suggests that several compounds released by human body may activate cerebral networks involved in human reproduction.
Savic
Ivanka
I
Stockholm Brain Institute, Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden. ivanka.savic-berglund@ki.se
Berglund
Hans
H
D000328:Adult; D000737:Androstenols / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009812:Odorants; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D000737:Androstenols