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Comparison of Synthetic and Natural Pheromones



Many times, synthetic pheromones that are used in pest control, insect monitoring, etc. are successful, as mentioned in the "use of synthetic pheromones" section. Scientists can actually trick insects into thinking the synthetic pheromones are actually natural pheromones released by other insects. Therefore, there is not much debate about whether or not synthetic pheromones used for insect control are effective and similar to natural insect pheromones. The controversial comparison is between human pheromones and the synthetic human pheromones, now being produced and added to colognes, perfumes, etc.

The pheromones that are located in the perfumes are actually androstenone and androstenal, or known to critics as "pig pheromones". Females have a higher sensitivity to androstenone associated with a stronger response to male body odors. The question is, do these chemicals have the same effects as natural human pheromones?("Sensitivity to androstenone in female subjects is associated with an altered brain response to male body odor", Physiology and Behavior, 1999, 68:129-37)

Figure taken from http://www.erox.com/SixthSense/StoryOne.html


According to David Berliner of Pherin Pharmaceuticals, they do. Berliner says that his company's synthetic pheromones act via the VNO and they are human pheromones, or better known as vomeropherins. When they are emitted in the presence of humans, physiological and electrical responses are evoked. However, his research is still under fire by other researchers who say he has not proven that the pheromones work via the VNO. They say it's a marketing ploy because if there's a VNO, then there's a pheromone. ("Pheromones: what's in a name?", Bioscience, 1998, 48:505-11)

According to an article in Discover Magazine, human pheromones and these synthetic pheromones do not work the way these advertisers portray. As discussed previously, in many mammals, pheromones are detected by the vomeronasal organ, which is located behind the nostrils. According to research done at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University, during human fetal development, the vomeronasal organ actually shrinks and may contain no nerve cells by the time we are born. Also, Emily Liman of Massachusetts General Hospital claims that humans don't respond to pheromones like other mammals do. Liman and her colleagues have located a gene in rats that control pheromone ion channels, which send the nerve signals to the brain when pheromones are detected. In humans, this gene is actually mutated and nonfunctional. That means that if this is the only way for humans to detect pheromones, the whole theory of pheromones and synthetic pheromones in colognes and perfumes and a fluke. However, there can be other ways for humans to detect pheromones. ("Pheromone follies", Discover Magazine, 1999, 20:22)

As you can see, there is constant controversy over how pheromones work. Some people say the VNO is still functional in humans and other people don't. Some people believe synthetic pheromones work and others don't. Until there are more complete studies performed, there is no definite answer to the question of whether or not humans have a functional VNO. This makes determining how humans use pheromones to communicate as well as whether or not synthetic pheromones work a very difficult and tedious task.

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