Johnston
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Olfactory communication, pheromones and the functions of the vomeronasal organ and main olfactory bulb
Some authors have promoted the view that the vomeronasal organ is specialized for responses to "pheromones" whereas the main olfactory system responds to other odors. My view is that this is over-simplified and that there is considerable overlap in the functions of these two systems. For example, both the vomeronasal and the olfactory system contribute to discrimination of the odors of different individuals.
We are currently studying the functions of these two systems in social communication using activation of the immediate early genes c-Fos and egr-1.
Publications
Johnston, R.E. 1998. Pheromones, the vomeronasal system, and communication: from hormonal responses to individual recognition. Olfaction and Taste XII, An International Symposium, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 855, 333-348.
Johnston, R.E. 2000. Chemical communication and pheromones: the types of chemical signals and the role of the vomeronasal system. In: The Neurobiology of Tast and Smell, 2nd ed. Ed. by T.E.Finger, W.L.Silver, & D.Restrepo. Wiley, NY. pp 101-127.
Johnston, R.E. & Peng, M. 2000. The vomeronasal organ is involved in discrimination of individual odors by males but not by females in golden hamsters. Physio. Behav., 70, 537-549.
