Vomeronasal Chemoreception In Vertebrates: A Study Of The Second Nose A Study of the Second Nose

The Vomeronasal Organ is an olfactory structure in the nose, originally described in 1813 by the Danish court veterinarian Ludwig Jacobson. After some 150 years interest in it was reawakened, following the discovery of its key role in social and sexual responses. The organ serves to alert the emotional brain to the presence of specific semiochemicals, or signal molecules, which identify sex or status. Typically, such scents elicit responses at a non-conscious level - altering internal chemistry (hormones) in reaction to odours from the social environment (pheromones). The importance of vomerolfaction has recently been confirmed by findings on the genetic basis of smell. This book surveys the biology of the "Organ of Jacobson" from toads to tamarins. It provides an analysis of the neural pathway which processes pheromonal information delivered by the 'second nose' to the brain. Vomeronasal olfaction is examined in its evolutionary perspective, from molecular capture of scents to the consequent changes in reproductive activity. The treatment integrates structural and functional aspects with the system's development, and considers the implications of its unique genome. The student or researcher is lead up to the edge of contemporary thinking by an overview of vomerolfactory contributions to individual survival and to population dynamics. The issues raised by recent research are evaluated in relation to the properties of primary olfaction. Questions posed by the persistence of vomerolfaction as a distinct sense are explored for man and other higher primates. The vomeronasal organ is an olfactory structure in the nose, originally described in 1813 by the Danish court physician Ludwig Jacobson. After some 150 years, interest in it was reawakened, following the discovery of its key role in social and sexual responses. The organ serves to alert the emotional brain to the presence of specific semiochemicals, or signal molecules, which identify sex or status. Typically, such scents elicit responses at a non-conscious level - altering internal chemistry (hormones) in reaction to odours from the social environment (pheromones). The importance of vomerolfaction has recently been confirmed by findings on the genetic basis of smell. This book surveys the biology of the "Organ of Jacobson" from toads to tamarins. It provides an analysis of the neural pathway which processes pheromonal information delivered by the second nose to the brain. Vomeronasal olfaction is examined in its evolutionary perspective, from molecular capture of scents to the consequent changes in reproductive activity. The treatment integrates structural and functional aspects with the system's development, and considers the implications of its unique genome. The student or researcher is led up to the edge of contemporary thinking by an overview of vomerolfactory contributions to individual survival and to population dynamics. The issues raised by recent research are evaluated in relation to the properties of primary olfaction. Questions posed by the persistence of vomerolfaction as a distinct sense are explored for man and other higher primates This detailed survey of the biology of the vomeronasal organ, or "second nose," analyzes its important role in alerting the emotional brain to the presence of signal molecules identifying sex or status, and offers an overview of the organ's contributions to individual survival and population dynamics. Evans (Glasgow Caledonian U., Scotland) examines the neural pathways which process pheromonal information in animals ranging from toads to tamarins. Evans examines the organ within its evolutionary perspective—from the molecular capture of scents on the non-conscious level, to its subsequent influence on reproductive activity. World Scientific distributes the book. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR The vertebrates produce, send and detect information which is conveyed by one or more molecular types.