Search results for "Pheromone"
showing 10 items of 256 documents
Attraction to sexual pheromones and associated odorants in female mice involves activation of the reward system and basolateral amygdala
2005
Adult female mice are innately attracted to non-volatile pheromones contained in male-soiled bedding. In contrast, male-derived volatiles become attractive if associated with non-volatile attractive pheromones, which act as unconditioned stimulus in a case of Pavlovian associative learning. In this work, we study the chemoinvestigatory behaviour of female mice towards volatile and non-volatile chemicals contained in male-soiled bedding, in combination with the analysis of c-fos expression induced by such a behaviour to clarify: (i) which chemosensory systems are involved in the detection of the primary attractive non-volatile pheromone and of the secondarily attractive volatiles; (ii) where…
Investigation of long-range female sex pheromone of the European tarnished plant bug, Lygus rugulipennis: chemical, electrophysiological, and field s…
2004
The European tarnished plant bug, Lygus rugulipennis, is an important pest of agricultural and horticultural crops throughout Europe. Adult male L. rugulipennis were previously shown to be attracted to traps baited with live virgin females, which suggests the females produce a sex pheromone. Volatiles produced by virgin female L. rugulipennis were shown to contain three components, hexyl butyrate, (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate, and (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal which elicited electroantennographic (EAG) responses from males in analyses by linked gas chromatography–electroantennography (GC-EAG). They were produced in 1.5:1:0.08 ratio, respectively, by single females. Collections from 1, 2, or 4 virgin female…
Genetic control of pheromones in Drosophila simulans. I. Ngbo, a locus on the second chromosome
1991
0016-6731 (Print) Journal Article; 7-Tricosene and 7-pentacosene are predominant hydrocarbons on the cuticle of both sexes in Drosophila simulans. The pheromonal role of 7-tricosene has been clearly established for conspecific males, while a synergistic effect for 7-pentacosene has been postulated. Interstrain variation for the production of both compounds is very marked, but similar for both sexes. The genetic basis of this polymorphism was investigated. A major role was found for the second chromosome, which controls the 7-tricosene:7-pentacosene ratio. The main locus involved in controlling this variation, Ngbo, was mapped to position 65.3 on the second chromosome. The production of 7-pe…
Defensive secretion of Therea petiveriana: chemical identification and evidence of an alarm function
2002
0098-0331 (Print) Journal Article; The volatile constituents of the supposed defensive secretions of the glandular pouches of the adults of both sexes of the cockroach Therea petiveriana have been shown to contain N-3-methylbutylacetamide (MBA) and N-3-methylbutylpropanamide (MBP), which represented 60% of the volatile fraction. The other 40% included acidic, aromatic, and aldehydic compounds. Behavioral experiments demonstrated that the secretion acts as an alarm pheromone for adults.
Cuticular hydrocarbons of Drosophila montana: geographic variation, sexual dimorphism and potential roles as pheromones.
2014
Abstract Sexual selection within populations can play an important role in speciation when divergence in mating signals and their corresponding preferences occur along different coevolutionary trajectories in different populations. In insects, one potential target of sexual selection is the blend of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), which often show intra- and interspecific variation, sexual dimorphism and may act as pheromones. In Drosophila montana, a cold-adapted, circumboreal member of the Drosophila virilis species group, flies from different populations have been found to show significant premating isolation as well as variation in male mating signal (song) and female preference. While t…
Conformational Change in the Pheromone-binding Protein fromBombyx mori Induced by pH and by Interaction with Membranes
1999
The pheromone-binding protein (PBP) from Bombyx mori was expressed in Escherichia coli periplasm. It specifically bound radiolabeled bombykol, the natural pheromone for this species. It appeared as a single band both in native and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and was also homogeneous in most chromatographic systems. However, in ion-exchange chromatography, multiple forms sometimes appeared. Attempts to separate them revealed that they could be converted into one another. Analysis of the protein by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy demonstrated that its tertiary structure was sensitive to pH changes and that a dramatic conformational transition occurred between pH 6.…
Co-adaptation of pheromone production and behavioural responses in Drosophila melanogaster males
1999
0016-6723 (Print) Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; In Drosophila melanogaster, male courtship behaviour is genetically controlled and is influenced by sex pheromones. 7-tricosene (7-T) induces a dose-dependent inhibition of male-male courtship, whereas 7,11-dienes stimulate male courtship of females. There is a geographical quantitative variation in the production of two predominant male hydrocarbons, 7-T and 7-pentacosene (7-P). We have previously found that 7-P, the main hydrocarbon from males of West African strains, stimulates males that mainly produce 7-T. Using both 'natural' and genetically engineered strains, we find that genetic factors coding for low levels of 7-P…
The pheromonal role of cuticular hydrocarbons in Drosophila melanogaster
1997
0265-9247 (Print) Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review; Pheromones play a crucial role in mate stimulation and discrimination. In the fruit fly Drosophila, the most abundant cuticular hydrocarbons act as sex pheromones during courtship behavior. There are several active molecules and they compose a sex- and species-specific pheromonal bouquet. Different species from the Drosophila melanogaster subgroup have adopted alternative systems of chemical mate recognition. Recent exploration of these interspecific variations, and of intraspecific variations, has led to the characterization of genes and to the mapping of structures that process the production and perception of chem…
Cuticular hydrocarbons: their evolution and roles in Drosophila pheromonal communication
2005
0001-8244 (Print) Journal Article Review; I review the recent literature on cuticular hydrocarbons (CHs) in Drosophila. First, the major structural features of CHs are examined in a variety of species with regard to phylogeny. The genetic bases of the CH variation between and within species have been investigated with some of the genes involved characterized and manipulated. The effect of non-genetic factors as temperature, food and development is also examined with regard to CH production. Using a model involving the stimulating or the inhibiting role of CHs, it is possible to speculate on the mechanisms of CH perception and on the role(s) that these substances could play on sexual isolati…
Production, regeneration and biochemical precursors of the major components of the defensive secretion of Eurycotis floridana (Dictyoptera, polyzoste…
2000
0965-1748 (Print) Journal Article; The defensive secretion of the cockroach Eurycotis floridana contains three main components, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-hexenol and (E)-2-hexenoic acid, which represented about 98% of the organic phase. The quantity of the aldehyde, alcohol, and acid present in the defensive secretion increased rapidly for 60 days from the imaginal moult. Following artificial discharge, the males were able to regenerate their initial volume of secretion over a 30 day period. To investigate the possible routes of biosynthesis of the three components, E. floridana was injected with 14C-labeled fatty acids and acetate, and the incorporation of 14C into the three components were qua…