The chemosensory identity of mice and rats is determined partly by polymorphic genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). In inbred strains of mice, as well as in seminatural populations, MHC-associated mating preferences selectively influence reproductive success, thus serving to promote heterozygocity in the MHC. In order to determine whether MHC-associated chemosignals are present in humans, two studies were conducted. In a first study, olfactory identification of MHC-associated chemosignals was conducted on 12 trained rats' responses to the urine odors of humans. In a second study, MHC-associated olfactory cues in humans were analyzed by means of gas chromatography. The results indicate that the urine odors of humans are associated with the MHC and demonstrate that the profile of volatile components in the urine odors shows some association with the MHC. Furthermore, results show that a profile of some specific components, as well as a few ubiquitous volatiles, constitutes MHC-associated odor signals in humans.
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has been linked to encoding for individual olfactory identity. Experiments in mice and rats proved that behavior and mating were, at least in part, determined by genes within the MHC. This study was aimed at investigating whether sHLA are excreted in human urine, saliva and sweat. In particular examination of the molecular forms in these fluids would give clues to whether break down forms of soluble MHC molecules might participate in shaping behavior. Major bands of 45, 40, and 23 kD were detectable. Increased levels of sHLA were measured using a quantitative ELISA in urine shortly before ovulation decreasing to normal levels thereafter. In animal models strain specific MHC-linked odor cues have been detected in urine. Thus, excretion of sHLA in urine might indicate a similar role for these molecules in humans.
The change in strain-specific urine odors which appears after bone marrow transplantations was systematically examined in mice in order to demonstrate an influence of the hematopoietic system on urinary chemosignals. Four mice were trained in a Y maze to discriminate two fully allogeneic mouse strains via their urine odors. Urine samples obtained from three inbred strains, from syngeneic reconstituted mice, and from allogeneic reconstituted chimeras were combined in a number of ‘transfer of training’ tests. The strain-specific urine odors of the recipients were changed by a fully allogeneic bone marrow transplant. Since this change could not be found in syngeneic reconstituted mice, we concluded that it was caused by the graft. Experiments partly failed to demonstrate donor- and recipient-specific components in the urine odor of the chimeras.
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