Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Olfactory sensitivity for sperm-attractant aromatic aldehydes: a comparative study in human subjects and spider monkeys

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Comparative Physiology A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Using a three-alternative forced-choice ascending staircase procedure, we determined olfactory detection thresholds in 20 human subjects for seven aromatic aldehydes and compared them to those of four spider monkeys tested in parallel using an operant conditioning paradigm. With all seven odorants, both species detected concentrations <1 ppm, and with several odorants single individuals of both species even discriminated concentrations <1 ppb from the solvent. No generalizable species differences in olfactory sensitivity were found despite marked differences in neuroanatomical and genetic features. The across-odorant patterns of sensitivity correlated significantly between humans and spider monkeys, and both species were more sensitive to bourgeonal than to lilial, cyclamal, canthoxal, helional, lyral, and 3-phenylpropanal. No significant correlation between presence/absence of an oxygen-containing moiety attached to the benzene ring or presence/absence of an additional alkyl group next to the functional aldehyde group, and olfactory sensitivity was found in any of the species. However, the presence of a tertiary butyl group in para position (relative to the functional aldehyde group) combined with a lack of an additional alkyl group next to the functional aldehyde group may be responsible for the finding that both species were most sensitive to bourgeonal.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Cain WS, Schmidt R (2009) Can we trust odor databases? Example of t- and n-butyl acetate. Atmos Environ 43:2591–2601

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chastrette M (1997) Trends in structure-odor relationships. SAR QSAR Environ Res 6:215–254

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cometto-Muñiz JE, Cain WS, Abraham MH (2003) Quantification of chemical vapors in chemosensory research. Chem Senses 28:467–477

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doty RL, Laing DG (2003) Psychophysical measurement of human olfactory function, including odorant mixture assessment. In: Doty RL (ed) Handbook of olfaction and gustation, 2nd edn. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 203–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukuda N, Yomogida K, Okabe M, Touhara K (2004) Functional characterization of a mouse testicular olfactory receptor and its role in chemosensing and in regulation of sperm motility. J Cell Sci 117:5835–5845

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gilad Y, Wiebe V, Przeworski E, Lancet D, Pääbo S (2004) Loss of olfactory receptor genes coincides with the acquisition of full trichromatic vision in primates. PLoS Biol 2:e5

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grosmaitre X, Vassalli A, Mombaerts P, Shepherd GM, Ma M (2006) Odorant responses of olfactory sensory neurons expressing the odorant receptor MOR23: a patch clamp analysis in gene-targeted mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103:1970–1975

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hastings L (2003) Psychophysical evaluation of olfaction in nonhuman mammals. In: Doty RL (ed) Handbook of olfaction and gustation, 2nd edn. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 385–401

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayden S, Bekaert M, Crider TA, Mariani S, Murphy WJ, Teeling EC (2010) Ecological adaptation determines functional mammalian olfactory subgenomes. Genome Res 20:1–9

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez Salazar LT, Laska M, Rodriguez Luna E (2003) Olfactory sensitivity for aliphatic esters in spider monkeys, Ateles geoffroyi. Behav Neurosci 117:1142–1149

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jacquier V, Pick H, Vogel H (2006) Characterization of an extended receptive ligand repertoire of the human olfactory receptor OR17-40 comprising structurally related compounds. J Neurochem 97:537–544

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson BA, Leon M (2007) Chemotopic odorant coding in a mammalian olfactory system. J Comp Neurol 503:1–34

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson BA, Arguello S, Leon M (2007) Odorants with multiple oxygen-containing functional groups and other odorants with high water solubility preferentially activate posterior olfactory bulb glomeruli. J Comp Neurol 502:468–482

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Joshi D, Völkl M, Shepherd GM, Laska M (2006) Olfactory sensitivity for enantiomers and their racemic mixtures—a comparative study in CD-1 mice and spider monkeys. Chem Senses 31:655–664

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keverne EB (2004) Brain evolution, chemosensory processing, and behavior. Nutr Rev 62:218–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laska M (2004) Olfactory discrimination ability of human subjects for enantiomers with an isopropenyl group at the chiral center. Chem Senses 29:143–152

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laska M, Ringh A (2010) How big is the gap between olfactory detection and recognition of aliphatic aldehydes? Attent Percept Psychophys 72:806–812

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laska M, Teubner P (1999) Olfactory discrimination ability of human subjects for ten pairs of enantiomers. Chem Senses 24:161–170

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laska M, Hernandez Salazar LT, Rodriguez Luna E (2003) Successful acquisition of an olfactory discrimination paradigm by spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). Physiol Behav 78:321–329

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laska M, Wieser A, Rivas Bautista RM, Hernandez Salazar LT (2004) Olfactory sensitivity for carboxylic acids in spider monkeys and pigtail macaques. Chem Senses 29:101–109

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laska M, Wieser A, Hernandez Salazar LT (2005) Olfactory responsiveness to two odorous steroids in three species of nonhuman primates. Chem Senses 30:505–511

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laska M, Höfelmann D, Huber D, Schumacher M (2006a) Does the frequency of occurrence of odorants in the chemical environment determine olfactory sensitivity? A study with acyclic monoterpene alcohols in three species of nonhuman primates. J Chem Ecol 32:1317–1331

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laska M, Joshi D, Shepherd GM (2006b) Olfactory sensitivity for aliphatic aldehydes in CD-1 mice. Behav Brain Res 167:349–354

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laska M, Rivas Bautista RM, Hernandez Salazar LT (2006c) Olfactory sensitivity for aliphatic alcohols and aldehydes in spider monkeys, Ateles geoffroyi. Am J Phys Anthropol 129:112–120

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laska M, Wieser A, Hernandez Salazar LT (2006d) Sex-specific differences in olfactory sensitivity for putative human pheromones in nonhuman primates. J Comp Psychol 120:106–112

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laska M, Rivas Bautista RM, Höfelmann D, Sterlemann V, Hernandez Salazar LT (2007) Olfactory sensitivity for putrefaction-associated thiols and indols in three species of nonhuman primates. J Exp Biol 210:4169–4178

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laska M, Persson O, Hernandez Salazar LT (2009) Olfactory sensitivity for alkylpyrazines—a comparative study in CD-1 mice and spider monkeys. J Exp Zool A 311:278–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Niimura Y, Nei M (2006) Evolutionary dynamics of olfactory and other chemosensory receptor genes in vertebrates. J Hum Genet 51:505–517

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Olsson P, Laska M (2010) Human male superiority in olfactory sensitivity to the sperm attractant odorant bourgeonal. Chem Senses 35:427–432

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spehr M, Gisselmann G, Poplawski A, Riffell JA, Wetzel CH, Zimmer RK, Hatt H (2003) Identification of a testicular odorant receptor mediating human sperm chemotaxis. Science 299:2054–2058

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spehr M, Schwane K, Riffell JA, Zimmer RK, Hatt H (2006) Odorant receptors and olfactory-like signaling mechanisms in mammalian sperm. Molec Cell Endocrinol 250:128–136

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stephan H, Baron G, Frahm HD (1988) Comparative size of brains and brain components. In: Steklis HD, Erwin J (eds) Comparative primate biology, vol 4. Alan R. Liss, New York, pp 1–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Touhara K, Sengoku S, Inaki K, Tsuboi A, Hirono J, Sato T, Sakano H, Haga T (1999) Functional identification and reconstitution of an odorant receptor in single olfactory neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96:4040–4045

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Gemert LJ (2003) Compilations of odour threshold values in air, water, and other media. Bacis, Zeist

    Google Scholar 

  • von Ranson C, Belitz HD (1992) Untersuchungen zur Struktur-Aktivitätsbeziehung bei Geruchsstoffen. 3. Mitteilung: Wahrnehmungs- und Erkennungsschwellenwerte sowie Geruchsqualitäten alicyclischer und aromatischer Aldehyde. Z Lebensm Unters Forsch 195:523–526

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weast RC (1987) Handbook of chemistry and physics, 68th edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Financial support by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACYT) Mexico to Laura Teresa Hernandez Salazar (J-51435-IV) is gratefully acknowledged. We thank Christian Margot of Firmenich SA, Geneva, Switzerland, and Henry Hansch of International Flavors & Frangrances, New York, USA, for generously providing us with highly purified bourgeonal and lyral, respectively.

The experiments reported here comply with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (National Institutes of Health Publication no. 86-23, revised 1985) and also with current laws in Mexico, the country in which the tests with the animals were performed.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IFM Biology, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden

    Luna Kjeldmand & Matthias Laska

  2. Instituto de Neuro-Etologia, Universidad Veracruzana, 91000, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico

    Laura Teresa Hernandez Salazar

Authors
  1. Luna Kjeldmand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laura Teresa Hernandez Salazar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Matthias Laska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthias Laska.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kjeldmand, L., Hernandez Salazar, L.T. & Laska, M. Olfactory sensitivity for sperm-attractant aromatic aldehydes: a comparative study in human subjects and spider monkeys. J Comp Physiol A 197, 15–23 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-010-0580-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-010-0580-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation