Origin, functions and chemistry of H-2 regulated odorants

Genes located within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of mice are responsible for individual differences in body odor (odortypes). In this r eview we suggest that the MHC genes themselves are responsible for odor dif ferences among MHC-congenic mice. Recent studies indicating that volatile c arboxylic acids are at least in part responsible for the individual odors a nd what this finding implies about the pathway from gene to odorant are als o reviewed. We suggest that odorants or their precursors are bound directly by MHC products and are released into serum and concentrated in urine. Fin ally, possible functions of MHC odortypes in mice are enumerated and import ant future research questions are raised.