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Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 13 pp 381–389Cite as

Semiochemical Communication in Dogs in the Context of Reproductive Behavior

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Abstract

The attempts of identification of sex pheromones playing crucial role in creation and modulation of the sexual behavior have been taken in many various domestic and wild species. In the present study, we evaluated the presence of methyl paraben, considered as a main sex pheromone in dogs, in secretions of bitches (GC/MS analysis) and, via behavioral tests, the ability of this substance to stimulate sexual arousal in stud dogs. We verified that some dogs can detect the most fertile period during estrus and we examined various objective methods for the evaluation of sex pheromone activity. Results obtained demonstrated that methyl paraben is not present in the urine of the bitch during estrus. Also, the effectiveness of methyl paraben (Eau D’Estrus, Synbiotics, USA) in causing sexual stimulation in male dogs has been questioned. The ability of male dogs to identify the most fertile period in bitches was confirmed, what suggest more complex characteristics of the semiochemical signal emitted by the bitch during estrus. We also concluded that bacteria present in the bitch’s vagina during estrus could significantly influence the production of semiochemicals. Moreover we found the evaluation of the blood flow (color Doppler) in ramifications of the penile artery in response to specific semiochemical signals, as a useful and specific method for detection of pheromonal stimulation in males. Taking into account the postulated complex character of sex pheromones in dogs, further studies including also detection of specific proteins and evaluation of reactivity of specific brain structures (fMRI) toward pheromones should be considered.

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Acknowledgments

Presented results were obtained during studies supported by Statutory Research and Development Activity Funds assigned to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environment and Life Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-366, Wrocław, Poland

    Michał Dzięcioł, Wojciech Niżański & Ewa Stańczyk

  2. Department of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375, Wrocław, Poland

    Antoni Szumny & Joanna Polikowska

  3. Centre for Experimental Diagnostics and Biomedical Innovations, University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-366, Wrocław, Poland

    Marcin Wrzosek

Authors
  1. Michał Dzięcioł
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  2. Antoni Szumny
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  3. Wojciech Niżański
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  4. Marcin Wrzosek
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  5. Ewa Stańczyk
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  6. Joanna Polikowska
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Correspondence to Michał Dzięcioł .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA

    Bruce A. Schulte

  2. Department of Chemistry, Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas, USA

    Thomas E. Goodwin

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

    Michael H. Ferkin

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Dzięcioł, M., Szumny, A., Niżański, W., Wrzosek, M., Stańczyk, E., Polikowska, J. (2016). Semiochemical Communication in Dogs in the Context of Reproductive Behavior. In: Schulte, B., Goodwin, T., Ferkin, M. (eds) Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 13. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22026-0_25

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