Accessory chemosignaling mechanisms in primates

Evans, Charles S.

doi:10.1002/ajp.20250

Cited by 19 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 118 publications

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“…In rodents, for instance, both the MOE and the VNO respond to pheromones by inducing similar behavioral and endocrine changes [Boehm et al, 2005;Dulac & Wagner, 2006;Leypold et al, 2002;Lin et al, 2005;Yoon et al, 2005]. Nonetheless, there has been much debate over the varying role of the VNO in primate olfactory communication [Evans, 2006;Meredith, 2001;Smith et al, 2001a].…”

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confidence: 97%

Nasopalatine Ducts and Flehmen Behavior in the Mandrill: Reevaluating Olfactory Communication in Old World Primates

Charpentier

Mboumba

Ditsoga

et al. 2013

American J Primatol

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Compared to other modes of communication, chemical signaling between conspecifics generally has been overlooked in Old World primates, despite the presence in this group of secretory glands and scent-marking behavior, as well as the confirmed production and perception of olfactory signals. In other mammalian species, flehmen is a behavior thought to transport primarily nonvolatile, aqueous-soluble odorants via specialized ducts to the vomeronasal organ (VNO). By contrast, Old World primates are traditionally thought to lack a functional VNO, relying instead on the main olfactory system to process volatile odorants from their environment. Here, in the mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), we document unusual morphological and behavioral traits that typically are associated with the uptake of conspecific chemical cues for processing by an accessory olfactory system. Notably, we confirmed that both sexes possess open nasopalatine ducts and, in response to the presentation of conspecific odorants, we found that both sexes showed stereotyped behavior consistent with the flehmen response. If, as in other species, flehmen in the mandrill serves to mediate social or reproductive information, we expected its occurrence to vary with characteristics of either the signaler or receiver. Flehmen, particularly in a given male, occurred most often in response to odorants derived from male, as opposed to female, conspecifics. Moreover, odorants derived during the breeding season elicited more flehmen responses than did odorants collected during the birthing season. Lastly, odorants from reproductively cycling females also elicited more responses than did odorants from contracepted females. Although confirming a link between the nasopalatine ducts, flehmen behavior, and olfactory processing in mandrills would require further study, our observations provide new information to suggest anatomical variability within Old World primates, calling further attention to the underappreciated role of chemical communication in this lineage.

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confidence: 97%

Nasopalatine Ducts and Flehmen Behavior in the Mandrill: Reevaluating Olfactory Communication in Old World Primates

Charpentier

Mboumba

Ditsoga

et al. 2013

American J Primatol

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“…Primates have two main olfactory subsystems: (1) The main olfactory epithelium, which binds volatile odorants and mediates the conscious perception of odors, and (2) the vomeronasal organ, which binds pheromones as social signals and is responsible for behavioral and neuroendocrine responses (18,19). The more primitive vomeronasal system and its genes have shrunk in the evolution of primates (20), and only five potential functional vomeronasal receptor genes have been found in humans (21). Nevertheless, it would be premature to exclude generally the action of pheromones in humans (22).…”

Section: Results Of the Readoutsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Renal Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptors in the Genesis of Hypertension

Crowley¹,

Gurley²,

Herrera³

et al. 2007

Journal of the American Society of Nephrology

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T he late Arthur Guyton had postulated that even in the absence of primary renal disease of the kidney, a change in renal function, more precise, resetting of the BP/natriuresis relationship, is a prerequisite for a persistent rise of BP (1,2). The hypothesis that resetting of renal sodium handling plays a dominant role in the genesis of "essential hypertension," which is undoubtedly a polygenic condition, is further supported by the findings in monogenic forms of hypertension: Virtually all forms identified so far (3,4) have turned out to be linked to increased tubular net reabsorption of sodium.The postulate of an overriding role of the kidney has not gone uncontested, however, and the results of a number of studies have been interpreted to indicate that persistent BP elevation may also be caused by primary changes of resistance vessels (5-8). This argument is weakened by the objection that co-involvement of the renal vasculature has not been consistently excluded in these studies. This point is of interest, because-at least in the model of the spontaneously hypertensive rat-narrowing of the afferent arterioles precedes the rise in BP and presumably contributes to it (9).Despite their mostly normal plasma renin activity even in patients with essential hypertension, the BP frequently responds to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, suggesting that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a pathogenetic role, an effect that obviously must be mediated through the angiotensin II (AngII) type 1 (AT1) receptor. It is true that transplantation of the kidney of an immunocompatible wild-type mouse into a mouse that lacks the AT1 receptor does not fully restore the BP to normal values, suggesting that extrarenal territories make at least some nonredundant contribution to BP regulation (10), but this observation by no means excludes an overriding role of the renal RAS in the long-term regulation of BP.Apart from the kidney, the AT1 receptor is expressed in several tissues that might well contribute to long-term BP regulation: Vessels (11), adrenal glands (12), and particularly cardiovascular control centers in the brain (13). A potential role of the latter in the regulation of BP would not be unexpected given the massive hypotensive response to intracerebroventricular injection of angiotensin receptor blockers (14).An overriding role of such extrarenal AT1 receptors could be excluded, however, by the elegant experiment by Crowley et al. (15), which used isolated manipulation of the renal AT1 receptor. Another recent controversy that was addressed by this study (15) has focused on the issue of whether blockade of the RAS has BP-independent beneficial effects on hypertensioninduced target organ damage, particularly on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Meta-analyses had suggested more rapidly appearing and more intense reversal of LVH under blockade of the RAS compared with alternative antihypertensive agents (16), but such clinical observations do not definitely exclude confounding, among others, by differences betw...

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“…Although the major role of the main olfactory system is to detect volatile molecules, the accessory olfaction system is mainly involved in the reception of large nonvolatile molecules, e.g. the sampling of fluids, such as urine or saliva [see Evans, 2006]. Besides acoustic communication, which has been thoroughly investigated [see Braune et al, 2005; Méndez‐Cárdenas et al, 2008; Rasoloharijaona et al, 2006], information on the function of olfactory communication in wild nocturnal prosimians remains sparse [Braune et al, 2005].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does nonnutritive tree gouging in a rainforest‐dwelling lemur convey resource ownership as does loud calling in a dry forest‐dwelling lemur?

Rasoloharijaona

Randrianambinina

Joly

2010

American J Primatol

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Nonhuman primates may defend crucial resources using acoustic or chemical signals. When essential resources are limited, ownership display for a resource may be enhanced. Defending resources may depend on population density and habitat characteristics. Using the Milne Edwards' sportive lemurs (Lepilemur edwardsi) and weasel sportive lemurs (L. mustelinus) as models, we tested whether two cryptic nocturnal lemur species differing in population density and habitat show differences in their vocal and chemical communication for signaling ownership of resources. L. edwardsi inhabits a western dry deciduous forest in a high-density population, whereas L. mustelinus is found in an eastern rainforest in low density. We followed ten L. edwardsi (six males and four females) and nine L. mustelinus (four males and five females) for 215 hr during the early evening (06:00-10:00 p.m.) and the early morning (02:00-05:00 a.m.) and recorded their behavior using focal animal sampling. We found that both species differed in their vocal and chemical communication. L. edwardsi was highly vocal and displayed loud calling in the mornings and evenings while feeding or in the vicinity of resting places. In contrast, L. mustelinus never vocalized during observations, but displayed tree-gouging behavior that was never observed in L. edwardsi. Tree gouging occurred more often during early evening sessions than early morning sessions. Subjects gouged trees after leaving their sleeping hole and before moving around. We suggest that, in weasel sportive lemurs, non-nutritive tree gouging is used as a scent-marking behavior in order to display ownership of sleeping sites. Altogether, our findings provide first empirical evidence on the evolution of different communication systems in two cryptic nocturnal primate species contrasting in habitat quality and population density. Further investigations are needed to provide more insight into the underlying mechanisms.

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Accessory chemosignaling mechanisms in primates

Cited by 19 publications

References 118 publications

Nasopalatine Ducts and Flehmen Behavior in the Mandrill: Reevaluating Olfactory Communication in Old World Primates

Nasopalatine Ducts and Flehmen Behavior in the Mandrill: Reevaluating Olfactory Communication in Old World Primates

Role of Renal Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptors in the Genesis of Hypertension

Does nonnutritive tree gouging in a rainforest‐dwelling lemur convey resource ownership as does loud calling in a dry forest‐dwelling lemur?

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