PMID- 16715503
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20060725
LR  - 20101118
IS  - 0275-2565 (Print)
IS  - 0275-2565 (Linking)
VI  - 68
IP  - 6
DP  - 2006 Jun
TI  - Accessory chemosignaling mechanisms in primates.
PG  - 525-44
AB  - Accessory olfaction is defined as the chemoreceptive system that employs the 
      vomeronasal complex (VNC) and its distinct central projections to the accessory 
      olfactory bulb (AOB) and limbic/cortical systems. Comparisons of the structural 
      and functional features of primate accessory olfaction can now be made at many 
      levels. Advances in the understanding of molecular mechanisms of odorant transfer 
      and detection, physiological analyses of signal processing, and appreciation of 
      ontogenetic timetables have clarified the contribution of accessory 
      chemoreception to the sensory map. Two principal functions dominate: the decoding 
      of social information through the uptake of signals (often fluid-borne), and the 
      provision of an essential pathway for the "migration" of presumptive neurocrine 
      (GnRH) cells from the olfactory placode to the hypothalamus. VN "smelling" 
      (vomerolfaction) is now seen to overlap with primary olfaction. Both systems 
      detect signal compounds along the spectrum of volatility/molecular weight, and 
      neither is an exclusive sensor. Both main and accessory chemoreception seem to 
      require collaborative molecular devices to assist in odorant transfer (binding 
      proteins) and (for the VNO) signal recognition (MHC1 proteins). Most 
      adaptive-selective features of primate chemocommunication variously resemble 
      those of other terrestrial mammals. VN function, along with its genome, has been 
      maintained within the Strepsirrhines and tarsiers, reduced in Platyrrhines, and 
      nearly extinguished at the Catarrhine up to hominin levels. It persists as an 
      intriguing ancient sense that retains key features of past evolutionary events.
CI  - Copyright 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
FAU - Evans, C S
AU  - Evans CS
AD  - Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. 
      csevans1@excite.com
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PL  - United States
TA  - Am J Primatol
JT  - American journal of primatology
JID - 8108949
RN  - 0 (Pheromones)
SB  - IM
MH  - Animals
MH  - Biological Evolution
MH  - Cercopithecidae/anatomy & histology/physiology
MH  - Chemoreceptor Cells/physiology
MH  - Hominidae/anatomy & histology/physiology
MH  - Humans
MH  - Olfactory Pathways/anatomy & histology/physiology
MH  - Pheromones/*physiology
MH  - Phylogeny
MH  - Platyrrhini/anatomy & histology/physiology
MH  - Primates/anatomy & histology/metabolism/*physiology
MH  - *Signal Transduction
MH  - Smell/*physiology
MH  - Strepsirhini/anatomy & histology/physiology
MH  - Vomeronasal Organ/*physiology
EDAT- 2006/05/23 09:00
MHDA- 2006/07/26 09:00
CRDT- 2006/05/23 09:00
PHST- 2006/05/23 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2006/07/26 09:00 [medline]
PHST- 2006/05/23 09:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1002/ajp.20250 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Am J Primatol. 2006 Jun;68(6):525-44. doi: 10.1002/ajp.20250.