The Vomeronasal Organ
Abstract
The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a chemoreceptor organ enclosed in a cartilaginous capsule and separated from the main olfactory epithelium. The vomeronasal neurons have two distinct types of receptor that differ from each other and from the large family of odorant receptors. The VNO receptors are seven-transmembrane receptors coupled to GTP-binding protein, but appear to activate inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate signaling as opposed to cyclic adenosine monophosphate. The nature of stimulus access suggests that the VNO responds to nonvolatile cues, leading to activation of the hypothalamus by way of the accessory olfactory bulb and amygdala. The areas of hypothalamus innervated regulate reproductive, defensive, and ingestive behavior as well as neuroendocrine secretion.
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The fact that chemical communication does not seem to be a strong determinant of human behavior is not a good logical argument for dismissing vomeronasal function, as seems to be implied by Keverne, anymore than it is for dismissing olfactory function.
“The fact that chemical communication does not seem to be a strong determinant of human behavior is not a good logical argument for dismissing vomeronasal function, as seems to be implied by Keverne (Keverne, 1999), anymore than it is for dismissing olfactory function.”
From Human Vomeronasal Organ Function: A Critical Review of Best and Worst Cases (2001) · cites this paper as Keverne, 1999
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- Authors
- Keverne, E. B.
- Affiliations
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Keverne, Eric B.
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 1999-10-22
- Volume
- 286
- Issue
- 5440
- Pages
- 716-720
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W1987571626
- Cited by
- 457
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 3.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Ion Channels and Receptors
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- Keywords
- vomeronasal organ, vomeronasal sensory neurons, vomeronasal receptors, chemoreception, G protein-coupled receptors, accessory olfactory bulb, hypothalamus, reproductive behavior, defensive behavior, ingestive behavior, neuroendocrine secretion
- MeSH terms
- Action Potentials, Afferent Pathways, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Chemoreceptor Cells, Female, Humans, Hypothalamus, Male, Neurons, Afferent, Olfactory Bulb, Pheromones, Receptors, Cell Surface, Signal Transduction, Vomeronasal Organ, GTP-Binding Proteins
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