啮齿动物的嗅觉通讯研究进展

通过对近40 年来啮齿动物嗅觉通讯的研究综述, 主要介绍嗅觉信号的来源、组成及其对啮齿动物行为生理所产生的作用。啮齿动物嗅觉通讯的信号来源主要是粪便、尿液和特化皮肤腺等, 对这些化学信号的成分分析主要集中在各种信息素(Pheromone) 的结构、来源及其引起的行为反应。目前, 在对啮齿动物嗅觉通讯神经通路的研究中, 对主嗅觉系统和犁鼻器系统在动物嗅觉通讯中的作用仍将是人们研究的重点; 而通过信息素作用所产生的各种行为反应的神经内分泌机制也是动物嗅觉通讯领域研究的热点之一。研究气味信号对动物行为和生理等方面所产生的作用, 将有助于揭示啮齿动物嗅觉通讯在其社会行为中的重要作用。

Progress of Research on Olfactory Communication in Rodents

The paper is a review on research of olfactory communication in rodents for the past 40 years. It mainly introduced the sources and components of olfactory signals, and their mechanisms on physiological behavior of rodent. Faeces, urine, secretion of skin gland, etc. are main sources of odor in rodents. The component analyses on these chemical signals have been focused mainly on structures, components and behavioral effects of pheromones. Currently, among the research areas in neuro-pathway of olfactory communication in rodents, main olfactory system, vomeronasal system, and their olfactory communication functions are still the focal points. Research on pheromones and their impacts on behavioral responses in neuro-endocrine mechanism is also one of the hot studies in animalsolfactory communication. Studying the impact of odor signals on animal behavior and physiology of animal will assist in revealing the important role of olfactory communication in social behavior of rodents.