In search of human skin pheromones

Cohn, B. A.

doi:10.1001/archderm.130.8.1048

Cited by 14 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…On the other hand, odor development of regularly shaved axilla after regrowth seems to be more profound as it differed from shaved axilla after 6 weeks. Our results are, in general, consistent with the idea that axillary hair developed for the retention of chemicals which may serve in chemical communication (Cohn 1994) and contribute to our emerging understanding of the complex nature of human chemical ecology.…”

Section: Other Confounds and Implicationssupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The location might be especially advantageous due to the upright posture of modern humans (Pawlowski 1999). Another specific feature is the presence of axillary hair which has been proposed to serve to retain chemical compounds active in communication processes (Cohn 1994). This is supported by the study of Nixon et al (1988) who found 16-androstenes in the axillary hair extracts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

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Shaving of axillary hair has only a transient effect on perceived body odor pleasantness

Kohoutová

Rubešová

Havlı́ček

2011

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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In contrast to other apes, humans have relatively greater amounts of armpit hair, which is thought to retain signaling molecules. Although armpit shaving is widespread cross-culturally, its effect on body odor has been little investigated.In four experiments, we tested the effect of shaving and the subsequent regrowth of axillary hair. Armpit odors were collected from men who regularly shaved (group S) or who had never shaved (group N) their armpits before. The samples were subsequently rated by women for intensity, pleasantness, and attractiveness. In Experiments I, II (group N) and III, subjects firstly shaved one armpit and then let the hair regrow over 6 or 10 weeks. In Experiments I, II (group S) and IV, subjects shaved both armpits before the sampling and subsequently shaved one armpit during the same period, leaving the second armpit unshaved. Odors of the shaved armpits were rated more pleasant, attractive, and less intense compared to the unshaved armpits (Experiment I (group N)). However, no significant differences found in Experiments II and III (group N) suggest the effect of shaving is relatively minor. Moreover, there were no significant differences in odor comparing unshaved armpits with armpits after 1 week of regrowth (Experiments I, II (group N) and III) or comparing regularly shaved armpits with armpits after 1 or 3 weeks of regrowth (Experiments I, II (group S) and IV). The odor of shaved armpits was rated significantly more attractive compared to the armpits where hair had been regrowing for 6 or 10 weeks.

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Section: Other Confounds and Implicationssupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Shaving of axillary hair has only a transient effect on perceived body odor pleasantness

Kohoutová

Rubešová

Havlı́ček

2011

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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“…In contrast to eccrine sweat glands, apocrine glands develop as part of the pilosebaceous unit and are under the control of sex steroid hormones, mainly androgens (Cohn, 1994). Rodents are devoid of apocrine glands in their pelage skin.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abnormal Hair Development and Apparent Follicular Transformation to Mammary Gland in the Absence of Hedgehog Signaling

et al. 2007

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SummaryWe show that removing the Shh signal tranducer Smoothened from skin epithelium secondarily results in excess Shh levels in the mesenchyme. Moreover, the phenotypes we observe reflect decreased epithelial Shh signaling, yet increased mesenchymal Shh signaling. For example, the latter contributes to exuberant hair follicle (HF) induction, while the former depletes the resulting follicular stem cell niches. This disruption of the niche apparently also allows the remaining stem cells to initiate hair formation at inappropriate times. Thus, the temporal structure of the hair cycle may depend on the physical structure of the niche. Finally, we find that the ablation of epithelial Shh signaling results in unexpected transformations: the follicular outer root sheath takes on an epidermal character, and certain HFs disappear altogether, having adopted a strikingly mammary gland-like fate. Overall, our study uncovers a multifaceted function for Shh in sculpting and maintaining the integrity and identity of the developing HF.

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“…Axillary compounds. As in other species, human pheromones might be produced by apocrine glands (active only during reproductive maturity), eccrine glands (which produce sweat that contains compounds found also in saliva and urine), exfoliated epithelial cells or bacterial action [22][23][24] . We collected compounds from axillae because they contain all four of these potential sources and because the two previous, albeit highly criticized, attempts to study this issue used axillary compounds 3,4,[25][26][27][28] .…”

confidence: 99%

Regulation of ovulation by human pheromones

Stern

McClintock

1998

Nature

475

227

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Pheromones are airborne chemical signals that are released by an individual into the environment and which affect the physiology or behaviour of other members of the same species. The idea that humans produce pheromones has excited the imagination of scientists and the public, leading to widespread claims for their existence, which, however, has remained unproven. Here we investigate whether humans produce compounds that regulate a specific neuroendocrine mechanism in other people without being consciously detected as odours (thereby fulfilling the classic definition of a pheromone). We found that odourless compounds from the armpits of women in the late follicular phase of their menstrual cycles accelerated the preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone of recipient women and shortened their menstrual cycles. Axillary (underarm) compounds from the same donors which were collected later in the menstrual cycle (at ovulation) had the opposite effect: they delayed the luteinizing-hormone surge of the recipients and lengthened their menstrual cycles. By showing in a fully controlled experiment that the timing of ovulation can be manipulated, this study provides definitive evidence of human pheromones.

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In search of human skin pheromones

Cited by 14 publications

References 0 publications

Shaving of axillary hair has only a transient effect on perceived body odor pleasantness

Shaving of axillary hair has only a transient effect on perceived body odor pleasantness

Abnormal Hair Development and Apparent Follicular Transformation to Mammary Gland in the Absence of Hedgehog Signaling

Regulation of ovulation by human pheromones

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