Responsiveness to the Odour of Amniotic Fluid in the Human Neonate

Schaal, Benoı̂st; Marlier, Luc; Soussignan, Robert

doi:10.1159/000244192

Cited by 109 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(27 reference statements)

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“…MHC odortypes have been demonstrated in mice, rats and humans (see introduction). Investigation of a role for MHC in mother-young recognition in humans, which is known to be mediated in part by olfaction (34,35), would now seem warranted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parent–progeny recognition as a function of MHC odortype identity

Yamazaki

Beauchamp

Curran

et al. 2000

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

120

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The several linked polymorphic genes of the MHC, which has been proposed as a prime determinant of sensed genetic individuality within species, is known to operate in mice by olfactory recognition in aspects of reproductive behavior that concern mate selection, thereby favoring outbreeding and heterozygosity, and also concern the maintenance of pregnancy. A single base-change can alter an individual MHC odortype, and the potential range of combinatorial MHC-determined odortypes is clearly vast. Following our findings that newborn mice already express their MHC odortype (which is detectable at 9 days of gestational age), we sought to determine whether MHC is involved in behavioral aspects of early development, such as rearing. In the studies presented herein, we report the ability and proclivity of mothers to recognize and preferentially retrieve syngeneic (genetically identical) pups from other pups differing only for MHC. Reciprocally, we report the ability of pups to recognize their familial environment, regardless of whether they had been nursed by their biological mothers or by foster mothers. Early learning experiences of the MHC environment are apparently a key element in survival, assuring maternal protection and promoting outbreeding.chemosensation ͉ olfaction ͉ mammalian pheromones ͉ infant

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parent–progeny recognition as a function of MHC odortype identity

Yamazaki

Beauchamp

Curran

et al. 2000

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

120

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As is the case in various animal species (e.g., rabbits [59,60], sheep [50], and rats [33,61,62]), prenatal human experiences derived from chemosensory constituents of the maternal diet have a profound effect upon later responsiveness to these constituents. For example, orofacial responsiveness to the smell of anise has been evaluated in human neonates whose mothers had or had not consumed anise-flavored sweets during the last 2 weeks of pregnancy.…”

Section: Human Studiesmentioning

confidence: 98%

Fetal Learning About Ethanol and Later Ethanol Responsiveness: Evidence Against “Safe” Amounts of Prenatal Exposure

Abate

Pueta

Spear

et al. 2008

Exp Biol Med (Maywood)

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Near-term fetuses of different mammalian species, including humans, exhibit functional sensory and learning capabilities. The neurobiological literature indicates that the unborn organism processes sensory stimuli present in the amniotic fluid, retains this information for considerable amounts of time, and is also capable of associating such stimuli with biologically relevant events. This research has stimulated studies aimed at the analysis of fetal and neonatal learning about ethanol, a topic that constitutes the core of the present review. Ethanol has characteristic sensory (olfactory, taste, and trigeminal) attributes and can exert pharmacologic reinforcing effects. The studies under examination support the hypothesis that low to moderate levels of maternal ethanol intoxication during late pregnancy set the opportunity for fetal learning about ethanol. These levels of prenatal ethanol exposure do not generate evident morphologic or neurobehavioral alterations in the offspring, but they exert a significant impact upon later ethanol-seeking and intake behaviors. Supported by preclinical and clinical findings, this review contributes to strengthening the case for the ability of prenatal ethanol exposure to have effects on the postnatal organism. Keywords ethanol; fetal learning; associative conditioningThis review analyzes the impact of low to moderate prenatal levels of exposure to ethanol on later responding to ethanol and stimuli associated with ethanol. These levels of ethanol exposure might be viewed as "safe" but nevertheless have negative effects that might not be noticed for many years.We previously reviewed the literature, examining possible associations between early ontogenetic experiences with alcohol and subsequent affinity for ethanol ingestion and sensitivity to its reinforcing effects (postabsorptive consequences that increase behaviors aimed at obtaining ethanol or that generate preferences to stimuli signaling such consequences) (1). This review took into account fetal and infantile experiences involving acute or chronic exposure to ethanol and how they exerted significant effects upon subsequent ethanol 1To whom correspondence should be addressed at Instituto Ferreyra,

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“…1). In this way, we took advantage of the right bias of neonatal head movements (e.g., Turkewitz & Birch, 1971) and of easier response elicitation when odors are presented from the right side (e.g., Rieser, Yonas, & Wikner, 1976;Schaal, 1984;Schaal, Marlier, & Soussignan, 1995). A silent camera was placed behind and above the mothers' right shoulder to videotape the newborn's face.…”

Section: Experimental Setting and Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

The “smellscape” of mother's breast: Effects of odor masking and selective unmasking on neonatal arousal, oral, and visual responses

Doucet

Soussignan

Sagot

et al. 2007

Developmental Psychobiology

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Lactating women emit odor cues that release activity in newborns. Such cues may be carried in various substrates, including milk or areolar secretions. The present study aimed to examine the responses of infants facing their mother's breast and to sort out the source(s) of active volatile compounds emitted by the lactating breast. Infants (aged 3-4 days) were presented their mother's breast in two consecutive trials of 90 s each: a scentless condition (breast entirely covered with a transparent film) paired with one of four odorous conditions (fully exposed breast: n ¼ 15; nipple only exposed: 15; areola only exposed: 13; and milk exposed: 12). The infants were more orally activated when facing any of the odorous breast conditions than when facing the scentless breast. They cried earlier and longer, and opened their eyes less, when facing the scentless breast. Nipple, Areola, and Milk odors appeared to be equivalent to the whole breast odor in stimulating oral activity and in delaying crying onset. This study shows that volatile compounds originating in areolar secretions or milk release mouthing, stimulate eye opening, and delay and reduce crying in newborns.

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Responsiveness to the Odour of Amniotic Fluid in the Human Neonate

Cited by 109 publications

References 21 publications

Parent–progeny recognition as a function of MHC odortype identity

Parent–progeny recognition as a function of MHC odortype identity

Fetal Learning About Ethanol and Later Ethanol Responsiveness: Evidence Against “Safe” Amounts of Prenatal Exposure

The “smellscape” of mother's breast: Effects of odor masking and selective unmasking on neonatal arousal, oral, and visual responses

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