PROTEIN-BOUND MALE URINARY PHEROMONES - DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSES ACCORDING TO AGE AND GENDER

The attractive properties of male urinary pheromones were tested on ad ult or prepubertal male and female mice. An androgen-dependent protein is present in adult male urine (major urinary protein, MUP) which has been suggested to be a pheromone-binding protein. We tested the phero monal properties of the protein-bound volatiles in a test of attractiv eness. These molecules, that co-purify with MUP, attract females and r epel adult males. in prepubertal animals, females are repelled and mal es are attracted by the same stimuli. These results are similar to tho se obtained by others with adult male whole urine. Therefore MUP binds molecules with a pheromonal activity, and these molecules are suffici ent to act as male signals.