Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-06T06:04:52.720Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Olfaction, pheromones and life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2013

E E Hoskison*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Miss E E Hoskison, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Schulich School of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, NG7 2UHUK Fax: +44 0115 9709758 E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Background:

From an evolutionary standpoint, olfaction is one of the oldest senses, and one that affects all aspects of life. This review discusses the influence of olfaction and pheromones on life.

Methods:

A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (1966–2012), Embase (1988–2012), The Cochrane Library (1993–2013) and Ovid (1966–2012).

Results:

Olfaction plays an important role in life, from infancy through to adulthood and declining health in old age. Culture, memories and emotions, which add to life's complexity and overall enjoyment, are also influenced by olfaction.

Conclusion:

Olfaction has a chronological influence on life, affecting all aspects from the cradle to the grave; it plays a role in the quality of life as a key ingredient of human evolution, survival and enjoyment.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Xenophon. Symposium, trans. Bartlett, RC, Pangle, T, Amber, W. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press: The Agora Editions, 1996;37Google Scholar
2Philpott, CM, Bennett, A, Murty, GE. A brief history of olfaction and olfactometry. J Laryngol Otol 2008;122:657–62CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Shakespeare, W. The Oxford Shakespeare: As You Like It (Oxford World's Classics). Brissenden, A, ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008;152Google Scholar
4Ressler, KJ, Sullivan, SL, Buck, LB. A molecular dissection of spatial patterning in the olfactory system. Curr Opin Neurobiol 1994;4:588–96CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Takagi, SF. Human Olfaction. Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press, 1989Google Scholar
6Doty, RL. Handbook of Olfaction and Gustation, 2nd edn.New York: Marcel Dekker, 2003CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7Karlson, P, Luscher, M. ‘Pheromones’: a new term for a class of biologically active substances. Nature 1959;183:55–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8Cuvier, G. Report made on the memoir of M Jacobsen entitled: anatomical description of an organ observed in mammals [in French]. Ann Mus Hist Nat Paris 1812;18:412–24Google Scholar
9Johnson, A, Josephson, R, Hawke, M. Clinical and histological evidence for the presence of the vomeronasal (Jacobson's) organ in adult humans. J Otolaryngol 1985;14:71–9Google ScholarPubMed
10Doty, RL. Olfaction. Annu Rev Psychol 2001;52:423–52CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11Boehm, N, Roos, J, Gasser, B. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)-expressing cells in the nasal septum of human fetuses. Brain Res Dev Brain Res 1994;82:175–80CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Brennan, P, Zufall, F. Pheromonal communication in vertebrates. Nature 2006;444:308–15CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13Wallis Budge, EA. The Egyptian Book of the Dead: the hieroglyphic transcript of the Papyrus of Ani. New Hyde Park, NY: University Books, 1960Google Scholar
14Allen, JP. The Art of Medicine in Ancient Egypt. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2005Google Scholar
15Classen, C, Howes, D, Synnott, A. Aroma: the Cultural History of Smell. London/New York: Routledge, 1994Google Scholar
16Freud, S. Civilization and its Discontents, trans. Strachey, J. New York: WW Norton, 1961;96–7Google Scholar
17Darwin, C. The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. London: John Murray, 1871Google Scholar
18Bhutta, MF. Sex and the nose: human pheromonal responses. J R Soc Med 2007;100:268–74CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19Van Der Lee, S, Boot, LM. Spontaneous pseudopregnancy in mice. Acta Physiol Pharmacol Neerl 1955;4:442–4Google ScholarPubMed
20Bruce, HM. A block to pregnancy in the mouse caused by proximity of strange males. J Reprod Fertil 1960;1:96103CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21McClintock, MK. Menstrual synchrony and suppression. Nature 1971;229:244–5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22Preti, G, Cutler, WB, Garcia, CR, Huggins, GR, Lawley, HJ. Human axillary secretions influence women's menstrual cycles: the role of donor extract of females. Horm Behav 1986;20:474–82CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23Russell, MJ. Human olfactory communication. Nature 1976;260:520–2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24Porter, RH, Moore, JD. Human kin recognition by olfactory cues. Physiol Behav 1981;27:493–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25Cernoch, JM, Porter, RH. Recognition of maternal axillary odors by infants. Child Dev 1985;56:1593–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26Blanchard, DC, Blanchard, RJ, Griebel, G. Defensive responses to predator threat in the rat and mouse. Curr Protoc Neurosci 2005;8:8.19Google Scholar
27Pinnaduwage, LA, Gehl, AC, Allman, SL, Johansson, A, Boisen, A. Minature sensor suitable for electronic nose applications. Rev Sci Instrum 2007;78:055101CrossRefGoogle Scholar
28Kallmann, FJ, Schönfeld, WA, Barrera, SE. The genetic aspects of primary eunuchoidism. Am J Ment Defic 1944;48:203–36Google Scholar
29Welge-Lüssen, A. Ageing, neurodegeneration, and olfactory and gustatory loss. B-ENT 2009;5(suppl 13):129–32Google ScholarPubMed
30Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke Council. Report of the Panel on Communicative Disorders to the National Advisory Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke Council. Washington, DC: National Institute of Health, 1979Google Scholar
31Lund, VJ, Preziosi, P, Hercberg, S, Hamoir, M, Dubreuil, C, Pessey, JJ et al. Yearly incidence of rhinitis, nasal bleeding, and other nasal symptoms in mature women. Rhinology 2006;44:2631Google ScholarPubMed
32Ciofalo, A, Filiaci, F, Romeo, R, Zambetti, G, Vestri, AR. Epidemiological aspects of olfactory dysfunction. Rhinology 2006;44:7882Google ScholarPubMed
33Holbrook, EH, Leopold, DA. An updated review of clinical olfaction. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2006;14:23–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
34Rowe-Jones, JM, Medcalf, M, Durham, SR, Richards, DH, Mackay, IS. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery: 5 year follow up and results of a prospective, randomised, stratified, double-blind, placebo controlled study of postoperative fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray. Rhinology 2005;43:210Google ScholarPubMed
35Doty, RL. Olfactory capacities in aging and Alzheimer's disease. Psychophysical and anatomic considerations. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1991;640:20–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
36Harrison, PJ, Pearson, RC. Olfaction and psychiatry. Br J Psychiatry 1989;155:822–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
37Turetsky, BI, Hahn, CG, Borgmann-Winter, K, Moberg, PJ. Scents and nonsense: olfactory dysfunction in schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull 2009;35:1117–31CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
38Jones, N, Rog, D. Olfaction: a review. J Laryngol Otol 1998;112:1124CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
39Hong, JH, Omur-Ozbek, P, Stanek, BT, Dietrich, AM, Duncan, SE, Lee, YW et al. Taste and odor abnormalities in cancer patients. J Support Oncol 2009;7:5865Google ScholarPubMed
40Lund, VJ, Stammberger, H, Nicolai, P, Castelnuovo, P, Beal, T, Beham, A et al. European position paper on endoscopic management of tumours of the nose, paranasal sinuses and skull base. Rhinol Suppl 2010;22:1143Google ScholarPubMed
41Willis, CM, Church, SM, Guest, CM, Cook, WA, McCarthy, N, Bransbury, AJ et al. Olfactory detection of human bladder cancer by dogs: proof of principle study. BMJ 2004;329:712Google ScholarPubMed
42Chapman, EA, Thomas, PS, Stone, E, Lewis, C, Yates, DH. A breath test for malignant mesothelioma using an electronic nose. Eur Respir J 2012;40:448–54CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed