Male Vomeronasal Organ Mediates Female-Induced Testosterone Surges in Mice

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Abstract
In many species, the odor of a female can elicit a surge in plasma testosterone in a male. Steroid radioimmunoassays of plasma samples obtained from mice lacking a specific nasal chemosensory structure, the vomeronasal organ, indicate an absence of the expected surge in testosterone after exposure to an anesthetized female. The male''s vomeronasal organ evidently detects the female primer pheromone which subsequently induces a testosterone surge.