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Biological: Behavioural genetics · Evolutionary psychology · Neuroanatomy · Neurochemistry · Neuroendocrinology · Neuroscience · Psychoneuroimmunology · Physiological Psychology · Psychopharmacology (Index, Outline)
- Not to be confused with 5α-Androst-2-ene-17-one.
Androstenone | |
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Androstenone | |
General | |
Systematic name | ? |
Other names | ? |
Molecular formula | ? |
SMILES | ? |
Molar mass | ?.?? g/mol |
Appearance | ? |
CAS number | [?-?-?] |
Properties | |
Density and phase | ? g/cm³, ? |
Solubility in water | ? g/100 ml (?°C) |
Melting point | ?°C (? K) |
Boiling point | ?°C (? K) |
Acidity (pKa) | ? |
Basicity (pKb) | ? |
Chiral rotation [α]D | ?° |
Viscosity | ? cP at ?°C |
Structure | |
Molecular shape | ? |
Coordination geometry |
? |
Crystal structure | ? |
Dipole moment | ? D |
Hazards | |
MSDS | External MSDS |
Main hazards | ? |
NFPA 704 | |
Flash point | ?°C |
R/S statement | R: ? S: ? |
RTECS number | ? |
Supplementary data page | |
Structure and properties |
n, εr, etc. |
Thermodynamic data |
Phase behaviour Solid, liquid, gas |
Spectral data | UV, IR, NMR, MS |
Related compounds | |
Other anions | ? |
Other cations | ? |
Related ? | ? |
Related compounds | ? |
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
Androstenone (5α-androst-16-en-3-one) is a steroid found in both male and female sweat and urine. It is also found in boar's saliva. Androstenone was the first mammalian pheromone to be identified. It is found in high concentrations in the saliva of male pigs, and, when sniffed by a female pig that is in heat, results in the female assuming the mating stance. Androstenone is the active ingredient in 'Boarmate', a commercial product made by DuPont sold to pig farmers to test sows for timing of artificial insemination.
Properties[]
Depending upon the subject, it is reported to be an unpleasant, sweaty, urinous smell, a woody smell, or even a pleasant floral smell.[1][2][3]
There are two different genotypes that cause androstenone to smell. The first genotype, which consists of two fully functional copies of the gene, is the RT/RT allele, and the second is the RT/WM allele.[4] The OR7D4 receptor has two non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms,[5] which cause the gene to have two amino acid substitutions, which in turn cause the receptor to act differently. Those in possession of the two proper genes, (RT/RT) for OR7D4 tend to describe the odor for the steroid as the odor of stale urine. Those with only one gene (RT/WM) typically described the odor as weak or were not able to detect it. They can also find the smell 'pleasant', 'sweet' or 'similar to vanilla'. [6]
In small amounts, the odor is hardly detectable by most people. This may be due to a polymorphism in the receptor gene that codes for the androstenone receptor.[7] However, the ability to detect the odor varies greatly. It has been shown that the odor can be detected by people down to levels of 0.2 parts per billion to 0.2 parts in 100 million.[8] Several groups report, however, that some individuals who initially cannot smell androstenone can learn to smell it by repeated exposures to it.[9]
Detectability as a pheromone[]
In humans, androstenone also has been suggested to be a pheromone; however, scientific data to support these claims are scant.[10] The vomeronasal organ is an auxiliary olfactory sense organ responsible for the detection of pheromones as more than just an odor. Most adult humans possess something resembling this organ, but there is no active function. Humans lack the sensory cells that exist in other mammals needed to detect pheromones beyond a smell. Humans also lack the genetic ability to produce these sensory cells actively.[11]
There is also a specific anosmia to the odor in some humans; they are unable to smell specific odors, but have, otherwise, a normal sense of smell. However, this should, by no means, be regarded as indicative for being labeled as a pheromone, as it is true of over 80 olfactory compounds.[12] There are more promising data for a closely-related compound, androstadienone.
To animals, the smell of androstenone can act as a social sign of dominance,[citation needed] or it can be a way of attracting a mate.[citation needed] This smell, to some animals, has a huge impact on behavioral patterns in the specimen.[specify]
Commercial use[]
Some commercially-available substances are advertised using claims that the products contain human sexual pheromones and can act as an aphrodisiac. These products are the subject of marketing by mass unsolicited e-mail and typically contain deceitful claims.
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Ability to perceive androstenone can be acquired by ostensibly anosmic people.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. URL accessed on 2007-09-25.
- ↑ Sniffers' genes dictate if sweat smells sweet. New Scientist. URL accessed on 2007-09-25.
- ↑ Steenhuysen, Julie Stinky? It's not his sweat, it's your nose. Scientific American. URL accessed on 2007-09-25. [dead link]
- ↑ [dead link] http://web.ebscohost.com/src/pdf?vid=9&hid=13&sid=802c875e-0200-4687-8e68-25dd33572ceb%40sessionmgr10
- ↑ http://newswire.rockefeller.edu/?id=660&page=engine
- ↑ Swaminathan, Nikhil The Scent of a Man. Scientific American. URL accessed on 2007-09-25.
- ↑ Lundström, Johan N., Suzi Seven, Mats J. Olsson, Benoist Schaal and Thomas Hummel (2006-07-14). Olfactory Event-Related Potentials Reflect Individual Differences in Odor Valence Perception. Chemical senses 31 (8): 705–11.
- ↑ Birchall, Annabelle A whiff of happiness: Can smelling a molecule contained in human sweat ease anxiety and stress? Some scientists think so, and argue that 'osmotherapy' may also help people to slim or stop smoking. New Scientist. URL accessed on 2007-09-25.
- ↑ Graham, Sarah Nostrils Share Information for Recognizing Scents. Scientific American. URL accessed on 2007-09-25.
- ↑ Kirk-Smith, M.D., and Booth, D.A. (1980) "Effect of androstenone on choice of location in others' presence". In H. van der Starre (Ed.), Olfaction and Taste VII, London: Information Retrieval Ltd., pp.397-400.
- ↑ Spinney, Laura Five things humans no longer need. New Scientist. URL accessed on 2008-05-20.
- ↑ , Ricardo C. Araneda and Stuart Firestein (2004). The scents of androstenone in humans. The Journal of physiology 554 (Pt 1): 1.
External links[]
- Pheromones and smells, youramazingbrain.org.uk
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