The major histocompatibility complex and the chemosensory signalling of individuality in humans |
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| Authors: | Frank Eggert Dagmar Luszyk Klaus Haberkorn Birgit Wobst Otto Vostrowsky Eckhard Westphal Hans Jürgen Bestmann Wolfgang Müller‐ruchholtz Roman Ferstl |
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| Institution: | (1) Institute of Psychology, University of Kiel, D‐24098 Kiel, Germany;(2) Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Erlangen‐Nuernberg, D‐, 91054 Erlangen, Germany;(3) Institute ofImmunology, University of Kiel, D‐, 24098 Kiel, Germany |
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| Abstract: | The chemosensory identity of mice and rats is determined partly by polymorphic genes of the major histocompatibility complex
(MHC). In inbred strains of mice, as well as in seminatural populations, MHC‐associated mating preferences selectively influence
reproductive success, thus serving to promote heterozygocity in the MHC. In order to determine whether MHC‐associated chemosignals
are present in humans, two studies were conducted. In a first study, olfactory identification of MHC‐associated chemosignals
was conducted on 12 trained rats' responses to the urine odors of humans. In a second study, MHC‐associated olfactory cues
in humans were analyzed by means of gas chromatography. The results indicate that the urine odors of humans are associated
with the MHC and demonstrate that the profile of volatile components in the urine odors shows some association with the MHC.
Furthermore, results show that a profile of some specific components, as well as a few ubiquitous volatiles, constitutes MHC‐associated
odor signals in humans.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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| Keywords: | chemosensory identity gas chromatography humans MHC‐ associated odors olfactometer specific volatiles trained rats urinary odors |
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