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Álvarez P, Bellosillo B, Colom F, Longarón R, Barrera-Conde M, Fernández-Ibarrondo L, Toll A, Ginés JM, de la Torre R, Pérez-Solá V, Robledo P. Y-chromosome in the olfactory neuroepithelium as a potential biomarker of depression in women with male offspring: an exploratory study. Mol Cell Biochem 2024; 479:1451-1455. [PMID: 37440120 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04807-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The persistence of fetal cells in the mother (fetal microchimerism (FMc)) has been described in maternal tissues essential to the newborn. FMc is associated with several diseases that start or worsen in pregnancy or postpartum. This exploratory study reports-for the first time-the presence of FMc in the olfactory neuroepithelium (ON) of both healthy and depressed women with male offspring. However, depressed women had fewer microchimeric cells (digital PCR). The existence of FMc in the ON could facilitate mother-child bonding. These findings open new pathways to study FMc in the ON, female depression, and mother-child bonding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Álvarez
- Mental Health Research Group, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
- MAR Health Park Consortium, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health Network (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Beatriz Bellosillo
- Group of Applied Clinical Research in Haematology, Cancer Research Program-IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Hospital del Mar-IMIM, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Colom
- Mental Health Research Group, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- MAR Health Park Consortium, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health Network (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, School of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Longarón
- Group of Applied Clinical Research in Haematology, Cancer Research Program-IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Hospital del Mar-IMIM, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Barrera-Conde
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience, Neuroscience Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Research Institute, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lierni Fernández-Ibarrondo
- Group of Applied Clinical Research in Haematology, Cancer Research Program-IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba Toll
- Mental Health Research Group, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- MAR Health Park Consortium, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health Network (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Rafael de la Torre
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience, Neuroscience Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Research Institute, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor Pérez-Solá
- Mental Health Research Group, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- MAR Health Park Consortium, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health Network (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Robledo
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience, Neuroscience Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Research Institute, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
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Schäfer L, Köppel C, Kreßner-Kiel D, Schwerdtfeger S, Michael M, Weidner K, Croy I. The scent of cuteness-neural signatures of infant body odors. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2024; 19:nsae038. [PMID: 38850226 PMCID: PMC11192622 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsae038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The smell of the own baby is a salient cue for human kin recognition and bonding. We hypothesized that infant body odors function like other cues of the Kindchenschema by recruiting neural circuits of pleasure and reward. In two functional magnetic resonance imaging studies, we presented infantile and post-pubertal body odors to nulliparae and mothers (N = 78). All body odors increased blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) response and functional connectivity in circuits related to olfactory perception, pleasure and reward. Neural activation strength in pleasure and reward areas positively correlated with perceptual ratings across all participants. Compared to body odor of post-pubertal children, infant body odors specifically enhanced BOLD signal and functional connectivity in reward and pleasure circuits, suggesting that infantile body odors prime the brain for prosocial interaction. This supports the idea that infant body odors are part of the Kindchenschema. The additional observation of functional connectivity being related to maternal and kin state speaks for experience-dependent priming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Schäfer
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstraße 74, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Carina Köppel
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstraße 74, Dresden 01307, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin 12203, Germany
| | - Denise Kreßner-Kiel
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstraße 74, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Sarah Schwerdtfeger
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstraße 74, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Marie Michael
- Max Planck School of Cognition, Leipzig 04103, Germany
- Department of Comparative Cultural Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthroplogy, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Kerstin Weidner
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstraße 74, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstraße 74, Dresden 01307, Germany
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena 07737, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Site Jena-Magdeburg-Halle 07737, Germany
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3
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Schäfer L, Sorokowska A, Weidner K, Sauter J, Schmidt AH, Croy I. Body odours as putative chemosignals in the father-child relationship: New insights on paternal olfactory kin recognition and preference from infancy to adolescence. Physiol Behav 2024; 278:114505. [PMID: 38432443 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Children's body odours are effective chemical cues in the parent-child relationship. Mothers can recognize the odour of their child and prefer this odour over that of unfamiliar children. This effect is mediated by genetic similarity and developmental stage and is therefore suited to promote parental care at pre-pubertal stage, while facilitating incest avoidance at (post-)pubertal stage. The present study tested whether similar mechanisms apply to fathers. Therefore n = 56 fathers evaluated body odour samples of their own and of unfamiliar children in varying genetic and developmental stages. Genetic status was determined by human leucocyte antigen (HLA) profiling, developmental status by standardized assessment of pubertal status and steroid hormone concentration (estradiol, testosterone). Similar to mothers, fathers identified their own child's body odour above chance and preferred that odour. The paternal preference did not relate to HLA similarity but decreased with increasing age of the child. The decline was associated with higher pubertal stages in daughters only, which supports the hypothesis of odour-mediated incest prevention in opposite-sex parent-child dyads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Schäfer
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Agnieszka Sorokowska
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Smell and Taste Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, pl. Dawida 1, 50-527, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Kerstin Weidner
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Alexander H Schmidt
- DKMS, Kressbach 1, 72072 Tübingen, Germany; DKMS Life Science Lab, St. Petersburger Straße 2, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany; Institute of Psycholgy, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Site Jena-Magdeburg-Halle, Jena, Germany
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4
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Owsienko D, Goppelt L, Hierl K, Schäfer L, Croy I, Loos HM. Body odor samples from infants and post-pubertal children differ in their volatile profiles. Commun Chem 2024; 7:53. [PMID: 38514840 PMCID: PMC10957943 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01131-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Body odors change during development, and this change influences the interpersonal communication between parents and their children. The molecular basis for this chemical communication has not been elucidated yet. Here, we show by combining instrumental and sensory analyses that the qualitative odorant composition of body odor samples is similar in infants (0-3 years) and post-pubertal children (14-18 years). The post-pubertal samples are characterized by higher odor dilution factors for carboxylic acids and by the presence of 5α-androst-16-en-3-one and 5α-androst-16-en-3α-ol. In addition to the olfaction-guided approach, the compounds 6-methylhept-5-en-2-one (6MHO), geranyl acetone (GA) and squalene (SQ) were quantified. Both age groups have similar concentrations of 6MHO and GA, whereas post-pubertal children tend to have higher concentration of SQ. In conclusion, sexual maturation coincides with changes to body odor chemical composition. Whether those changes explain differences in parental olfactory perception needs to be determined in future studies with model odors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Owsienko
- Chair of Aroma and Smell Research, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lisa Goppelt
- Chair of Aroma and Smell Research, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Katharina Hierl
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Laura Schäfer
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Helene M Loos
- Chair of Aroma and Smell Research, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
- Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, Freising, Germany.
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5
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Schäfer L, Croy I. An integrative review: Human chemosensory communication in the parent-child relationship. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105336. [PMID: 37527693 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Body odors serve as signals of kinship, with parents exhibiting a preference for the scent of their infants, and vice versa. The reciprocal perception of body odors can promote bonding through two mechanisms. Firstly, as an indirect pathway, through associative chemosensory learning, which leads to changes in proximity-seeking behaviors. Secondly, as a direct pathway, by eliciting the display of positive emotions, thereby reinforcing the mutual bond. Both mechanisms weaken as the child undergoes development due to changes in body odor expression and perception. This comprehensive review provides an overview of the current literature on chemosignals in the parent-child relationship, highlighting their significance in facilitating dyadic communication throughout the developmental span. Furthermore, future research perspectives are outlined to gain a better understanding of these benefits and, on the long run, derive potential interventions to strengthen parent child attachment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Schäfer
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Site Jena-Magdeburg-Halle, Germany
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Loos HM, Schaal B, Pause BM, Smeets MAM, Ferdenzi C, Roberts SC, de Groot J, Lübke KT, Croy I, Freiherr J, Bensafi M, Hummel T, Havlíček J. Past, Present, and Future of Human Chemical Communication Research. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2023:17456916231188147. [PMID: 37669015 DOI: 10.1177/17456916231188147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Although chemical signaling is an essential mode of communication in most vertebrates, it has long been viewed as having negligible effects in humans. However, a growing body of evidence shows that the sense of smell affects human behavior in social contexts ranging from affiliation and parenting to disease avoidance and social threat. This article aims to (a) introduce research on human chemical communication in the historical context of the behavioral sciences; (b) provide a balanced overview of recent advances that describe individual differences in the emission of semiochemicals and the neural mechanisms underpinning their perception, that together demonstrate communicative function; and (c) propose directions for future research toward unraveling the molecular principles involved and understanding the variability in the generation, transmission, and reception of chemical signals in increasingly ecologically valid conditions. Achieving these goals will enable us to address some important societal challenges but are within reach only with the aid of genuinely interdisciplinary approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helene M Loos
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Department of Sensory Analytics and Technologies, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV
| | - Benoist Schaal
- Development of Olfactory Cognition and Communication Lab, Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, CNRS UMR 6265, Université de Bourgogne
| | - Bettina M Pause
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
| | | | - Camille Ferdenzi
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5292, Inserm U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier
| | | | | | - Katrin T Lübke
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
| | - Ilona Croy
- Institute for Psychology, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
| | - Jessica Freiherr
- Department of Sensory Analytics and Technologies, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
| | - Moustafa Bensafi
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5292, Inserm U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden
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7
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Croy I, Bierling A. Smells as Communication Pathways - why Emotions Pass through the Nose. Laryngorhinootologie 2023; 102:S93-S100. [PMID: 37130533 DOI: 10.1055/a-1935-3214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
For many species, the sense of smell is the most important sensory system for interacting with the environment and conspecifics. In contrast, the role of perception and communication of chemosensory information in humans has long been underestimated. The human sense of smell was considered less reliable, so that it was given less importance compared to visual and auditory sensory impressions. For some time now, a growing branch of research has been dealing with the role of the sense of sell in emotion and social communication, which is often only perceived subconsciously. This connection will be examine in more detail in this article. First, he basics regarding the structure and function of our olfactory system will be described for better understanding and classification. Then, with this background knowledge, the significance of olfaction for interpersonal communication and emotions will be discussed. Finally, we conclude that people suffering from olfactory disorders have specific impairments in their quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Croy
- Institut für Klinische Psychologie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
- Klinik für Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden
| | - Antonie Bierling
- Institut für Klinische Psychologie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
- Klinik für Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus Dresden
- Institut für Materialwissenschaft und Nanotechnik, Technische Universität Dresden
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8
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Alves Soares T, Owsienko D, Haertl T, Loos HM. Recovery rates of selected body odor substances in different textiles applying various work-up and storage conditions measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Anal Chim Acta 2023; 1252:341067. [PMID: 36935158 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.341067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Body odor is an important aspect in interpersonal communication. For psychological and chemical research on body odors, suitable procedures for sampling and application, and analysis of body odors are essential. In this study, different textile fabrics (polyester, cotton, and Gazin gauze) were comparatively evaluated in view of their potential suitability for body odor sampling by determining recovery rates of selected body odor substances. In addition, the impact of sample preparation and storage conditions on the recovery rates was determined. RESULTS The recovery rates of dimethyl disulfide, (E)-non-2-enal, 5α-androst-16-en-3-one, 6-methylhept-5-en-2-one, heptanal and 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol were determined under different conditions of storage (storage for 30 min at room temperature or storage for 30 min at room temperature followed by freezing at - 80 °C for 4 weeks) and sample work-up (solvent extraction with and without solvent-assisted flavour evaporation, in the following: SAFE). SAFE led to overall lower recovery rates with a significant effect for (E)-non-2-enal and 5α-androst-16-en-3-one. Nevertheless, the results showed that SAFE can be an essential step when working with a complex matrix. When comparing the different fabrics, except for (E)-non-2-enal no difference between the recovery rates obtained for cotton and polyester became evident. Gazin gauze showed lower recovery rates for all compounds. Finally, our results showed that the here investigated target compounds are stable during storage for four weeks at - 80 °C. SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY The results show on the one hand that the here investigated compounds were stable during storage and that the fiber type had limited influence on overall recovery rates. On the other hand, they highlight the limitations of using textile materials for sampling of volatile substances, especially with regard to low recovery rates for certain substances and the necessity of material pre-treatment or distillation steps for enabling GC-MS analysis after solvent extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Alves Soares
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestr. 9, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Diana Owsienko
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestr. 9, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tobias Haertl
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestr. 9, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Helene M Loos
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestr. 9, 91054, Erlangen, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, Giggenhauser Str. 35, 85354, Freising, Germany.
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The social odor scale: Development and initial validation of a new scale for the assessment of social odor awareness. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260587. [PMID: 34905551 PMCID: PMC8670672 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The degree of attention individuals pay to olfactory cues (called odor awareness) influences the role of odors in everyday life. Particularly, odors produced by the human body (i.e., social odors) are able to carry a wide variety of information and to elicit a broad spectrum of emotional reactions, making them essential in interpersonal relationships. Hence, despite the assessment of awareness toward social odors is crucial, a proper tool is still lacking. Here, we designed and initially validated the Social Odor Scale (SOS), a 12-item scale designed to measure the individual differences in awareness towards different social odors. In Study 1, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA; KMO test: MSA = 0.78; Bartlett's test: χ2(78) = 631.34, p < 0.001; Chi-squared test: χ2(42) = 71.84, p = 0.003) suggests that the three factors structure was the model that best fit with the Italian version of the scale. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supports a second-order model with one higher-order factor representing social odor awareness in general and three lower-order factors representing familiar, romantic partner, and stranger social odors. The final version of the scale presented a good fit (RMSEA = 0.012, SRMR = 0.069, CFI = 0.998, TLI = 0.997). In Study 2, CFA was performed in the German version of the scale confirming the validity of scale structure. Study 3 and 4 revealed that SOS total score and its subscales were positively correlated with other validated olfactory scales, but not with olfactory abilities. Moreover, SOS was found to be related to the gender of the participants: women reported to be more aware to social odors and, specifically, to familiar social odors than men. Overall, the results indicated that SOS is a valid and reliable instrument to assess awareness toward social odors in everyday life.
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Barcelona V, Montalvo-Ortiz JL, Wright ML, Nagamatsu ST, Dreisbach C, Crusto CA, Sun YV, Taylor JY. DNA methylation changes in African American women with a history of preterm birth from the InterGEN study. BMC Genom Data 2021; 22:30. [PMID: 34482817 PMCID: PMC8418749 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-021-00988-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Preterm birth (< 37 weeks’ gestation) is a common outcome of pregnancy that has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease for women later in life. Little is known about the physiologic mechanisms underlying this risk. To date, no studies have evaluated if differences in DNA methylation (DNAm) among women who experience preterm birth are short-term or if they persist and are associated with subsequent cardiovascular sequelae or other health disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine long-term epigenetic effects of preterm birth in African American mothers (n = 182) from the InterGEN Study (2014–2019). In this study, we determine if differences in DNAm exist between women who reported a preterm birth in the last 3–5 years compared to those who had full-term births by using two different approaches: epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) and genome-wide co-methylation analyses. Results Though no significant CpG sites were identified using the EWAS approach, we did identify significant modules of co-methylation associated with preterm birth. Co-methylation analyses showed correlations with preterm birth in gene ontology and KEGG pathways. Functional annotation analysis revealed enrichment for pathways related to central nervous system and sensory perception. No association was observed between DNAm age and preterm birth, though larger samples are needed to confirm this further. Conclusions We identified differentially methylated gene networks associated with preterm birth in African American women 3–5 years after birth, including pathways related to neurogenesis and sensory processing. More research is needed to understand better these associations and replicate them in an independent cohort. Further study should be done in this area to elucidate mechanisms linking preterm birth and later epigenomic changes that may contribute to the development of health disorders and maternal mood and well-being. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12863-021-00988-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Barcelona
- School of Nursing, Columbia University, 560 W. 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Janitza L Montalvo-Ortiz
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, Errera Community Care Center-Orange Annex, Yale University, 200 Edison Road, Orange, CT, 06477, USA
| | - Michelle L Wright
- School of Nursing & Dell Medical School, Department of Women's Health, University of Texas at Austin, 1710 Red River St., Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Sheila T Nagamatsu
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, Errera Community Care Center-Orange Annex, Yale University, 200 Edison Road, Orange, CT, 06477, USA
| | - Caitlin Dreisbach
- Columbia University, Data Science Institute, Northwest Corner, 550 W 120th St #1401, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Cindy A Crusto
- School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University, 389 Whitney Ave, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Yan V Sun
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Y Taylor
- Center for Research on People of Color, School of Nursing, Columbia University, 560 W 168th St, Room 605, New York, NY, 10032, USA
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11
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Blomkvist A, Hofer M. Olfactory impairment and close social relationships. A narrative review. Chem Senses 2021; 46:6342176. [PMID: 34351415 PMCID: PMC8385889 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjab037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Olfactory impairment is one of the more unique symptoms of COVID-19 infection and has therefore enjoyed increased public attention in recent months. Olfactory impairment has various implications and consequences ranging from difficulty detecting dangerous pathogens to hindering social functioning and social behaviors. We provide an overview of how olfactory impairment can impact 3 types of close social relationships: family relationships, friendships, and romantic relationships. Evidence is divided into several categories representing potential mechanisms by which olfactory impairment can impact close social relationships: bonding disruptions, decreased social support, missed group-eating experiences, hygiene concerns, and altered sexual behaviors. We conclude with a discussion of emerging future research questions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marlise Hofer
- University of Victoria, Department of Psychology.,University of British Columbia, Department of Psychology
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12
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Sorokowska A, Janczak A, Ferdenzi C, Baldovini N, Oleszkiewicz A. Blindness, But Not HMHA Anosmia, Predicts Loneliness: A Psychophysical Study. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN 2021; 48:1167-1176. [PMID: 34323148 DOI: 10.1177/01461672211034376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Olfactory deficits can play a detrimental role in everyday social functioning. Perception of 3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid (HMHA)-a body odor component-could also be linked to this research area. However, no study so far has addressed the problem of HMHA perception in the context of the previously reported relationship between olfactory abilities and social difficulties. Here, we tested whether HMHA-specific anosmia predicted loneliness understood both as a cognitive evaluation of social participation and as one's social isolation, and we additionally analyzed the effects and correlates of HMHA perception in relation to sightedness. The study comprised 196 people, of whom 99 were blind. We found that subjects with blindness declared particularly high loneliness, but HMHA anosmia and the interaction of sightedness and HMHA anosmia predicted neither loneliness nor social withdrawal. In addition, HMHA pleasantness was positively associated with social withdrawal of the subjects with blindness and emotional loneliness correlated with HMHA familiarity regardless of sightedness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Janczak
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Camille Ferdenzi
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS UMR5292 - Inserm U1028 - Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, Bron, France
| | | | - Anna Oleszkiewicz
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Poland.,Smell and Taste Clinic, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
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13
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Scent of a Woman-Or Man: Odors Influence Person Knowledge. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11070955. [PMID: 34356189 PMCID: PMC8307153 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11070955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
First impressions of social traits are regularly, rapidly, and readily determined from limited information about another individual. Relatively little is known about the way that olfactory information, particularly from scents that are not body odors, alters a first impression. Can the attributes of an odorant be conferred onto a person associated with that scent? To explore this, 101 participants were asked to form an impression of a hypothetical person based on the following stimuli: A gender-neutral silhouette, a list of six personal characteristics, and one of five odorants. Participants then rated the likelihood that the hypothetical person possessed each of 51 personality traits that were determined a priori as falling into six attribute categories. Participants also directly rated all odorants for the six categories and intensity. A T-test showed that ratings of the hypothetical person were less disparate from the odor that was presented during impression formation than from other odors. ANOVA revealed that the effects were heterogeneous, with odorants varying in their effectiveness in associating the hypothetical person with categories. The present data suggest that a hypothetical person can be imbued with the specific attributes of an odor and that some odors are better at contributing to impressions than others.
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14
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Hierl K, Croy I, Schäfer L. Body Odours Sampled at Different Body Sites in Infants and Mothers-A Comparison of Olfactory Perception. Brain Sci 2021; 11:820. [PMID: 34205665 PMCID: PMC8235221 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11060820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Body odours and their importance for human chemical communication, e.g., in the mother-child relationship, are an increasing focus of recent research. Precise examination of sampling methods considering physiology and feasibility aspects in order to obtain robust and informative odour samples is therefore necessary. Studies comparing body odour sampling at different body sites are still pending. Therefore, we sampled axilla, breast, and head odour from 28 mother-infant dyads and examined whether odour perception differs with regard to the body site. The participating mothers were asked to evaluate their own and their infant's body odour samples, as well as odours of two unfamiliar mother-infant dyads. We tested whether maternal pleasantness and intensity evaluation, as well as recognition ability of the odours differed between the body sites. In infants, the head odour exhibited slightly lower pleasantness ratings than axilla and breast, and intensity ratings did not differ between body sites. In mothers, body site affected intensity ratings but not pleasantness ratings, as the breast odour was rated as less intense compared with head and axilla. Across all body sites, mothers rated the own and their infant's odour as less intense when compared with unfamiliar samples. Recognition ability did not differ between body sites, and in line with previous studies, mothers were able to recognize their own and their own infant's odour above chance. In sum, our study extends the previous methodological repertoire of body odour sampling and indicates that the axilla, breast, and head of adults as well as infants serve as informative odour sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Hierl
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Technical University of Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Laura Schäfer
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Technical University of Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
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15
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Sollai G, Melis M, Mastinu M, Paduano D, Chicco F, Magri S, Usai P, Hummel T, Barbarossa IT, Crnjar R. Olfactory Function in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Is Associated with Their Body Mass Index and Polymorphism in the Odor Binding-Protein (OBPIIa) Gene. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13020703. [PMID: 33671721 PMCID: PMC7926749 DOI: 10.3390/nu13020703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Smell strongly contributes to food choice and intake, influencing energy balance and body weight; its reduction or loss has been related to malnutrition problems. Some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), mainly Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are underweight, while others are overweight. Some studies suggest that changes in eating habits could be linked to specific disorders of the olfactory functions. We assessed the olfactory performance in 199 subjects (healthy control (HC) n = 99, IBD n = 100), based on the olfactory Threshold, Discrimination and Identification score (TDI score), measured with the “Sniffin’ Sticks” test. Subjects were genotyped for the rs2590498 polymorphism of the OBPIIa gene. IBD patients showed both a slightly, but significantly, lower olfactory function and a higher BMI compared to HC subjects. Threshold (in both population) and Discrimination (in IBD patients) olfactory score were affected by the OBPIIa genotype. BMI was influenced by both health status and OBPIIa genotype. A lower olfactory function may delay the satiety sensation and thus increase meal duration and body weight in IBD patients. However, the AA genotype of the OBPIIa seems to “protect” IBD patients from more severe olfactory dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Sollai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.); (I.T.B.); (R.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-070-6754160
| | - Melania Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.); (I.T.B.); (R.C.)
| | - Mariano Mastinu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.); (I.T.B.); (R.C.)
| | - Danilo Paduano
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico of Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (D.P.); (F.C.); (S.M.); (P.U.)
| | - Fabio Chicco
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico of Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (D.P.); (F.C.); (S.M.); (P.U.)
| | - Salvatore Magri
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico of Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (D.P.); (F.C.); (S.M.); (P.U.)
| | - Paolo Usai
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico of Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (D.P.); (F.C.); (S.M.); (P.U.)
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, 01067 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Iole Tomassini Barbarossa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.); (I.T.B.); (R.C.)
| | - Roberto Crnjar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.); (I.T.B.); (R.C.)
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16
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Schäfer L, Schriever VA, Croy I. Human olfactory dysfunction: causes and consequences. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 383:569-579. [PMID: 33496882 PMCID: PMC7835667 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03381-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The sense of smell essentially contributes to social communication, guides nutrition behaviour and elicits avoidance towards environmental hazards. Olfactory smell impairment may hence entail severe consequences for affected individuals. Compared with sensory loss in other modalities, reduced olfactory function is often unnoticed by those affected and diagnosed late. Those patients seeking help frequently suffer from long-term impairments resulting in reduced well-being and quality of life. The current review provides an overview of aetiology, prevalence and specifics of diagnostics in acquired and congenital olfactory loss and focusses on short- and long-term consequences. Compensation strategies are elaborated, and treatment options are mentioned. Individual characteristics associated with the development of serious mental health impairment are discussed in order to help practitioners identifying populations at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Schäfer
- Klinik Und Poliklinik Für Psychotherapie Und Psychosomatik, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany
| | - Valentin A Schriever
- Abteilung Neuropädiatrie, Klinik Und Poliklinik Für Kinder- Und Jugendmedizin, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ilona Croy
- Klinik Und Poliklinik Für Psychotherapie Und Psychosomatik, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany.
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17
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Thippeswamy H, Davies W. A new molecular risk pathway for postpartum mood disorders: clues from steroid sulfatase-deficient individuals. Arch Womens Ment Health 2021; 24:391-401. [PMID: 33219387 PMCID: PMC8116278 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-020-01093-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Postpartum mood disorders develop shortly after childbirth in a significant proportion of women. These conditions are associated with a range of symptoms including abnormally high or low mood, irritability, cognitive disorganisation, disrupted sleep, hallucinations/delusions, and occasionally suicidal or infanticidal ideation; if not treated promptly, they can substantially impact upon the mother's health, mother-infant bonding, and family dynamics. The biological precipitants of such disorders remain unclear, although large changes in maternal immune and hormonal physiology following childbirth are likely to play a role. Pharmacological therapies for postpartum mood disorders can be effective, but may be associated with side effects, concerns relating to breastfeeding, and teratogenicity risks when used prophylactically. Furthermore, most of the drugs that are used to treat postpartum mood disorders are the same ones that are used to treat mood episodes during non-postpartum periods. A better understanding of the biological factors predisposing to postpartum mood disorders would allow for rational drug development, and the identification of predictive biomarkers to ensure that 'at risk' mothers receive earlier and more effective clinical management. We describe new findings relating to the role of the enzyme steroid sulfatase in maternal postpartum behavioural processes, and discuss how these point to a novel molecular risk pathway underlying postpartum mood disorders. Specifically, we suggest that aberrant steroid hormone-dependent regulation of neuronal calcium influx via extracellular matrix proteins and membrane receptors involved in responding to the cell's microenvironment might be important. Testing of this hypothesis might identify novel therapeutic targets and predictive biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harish Thippeswamy
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India
| | - William Davies
- Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics and Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. .,School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Tower Building, 70, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK. .,Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
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18
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Schäfer L, Sorokowska A, Sauter J, Schmidt AH, Croy I. Body odours as a chemosignal in the mother-child relationship: new insights based on an human leucocyte antigen-genotyped family cohort. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190266. [PMID: 32306871 PMCID: PMC7209942 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Mothers are able to identify the body odour (BO) of their own child and prefer this smell above other BOs. It has hence been assumed that the infantile BO functions as a chemosignal promoting targeted parental care. We tested this hypothesis and examined whether children's BOs signal genetic similarity and developmental status to mothers. In addition, we assessed whether BOs facilitate inbreeding avoidance (Westermarck effect). In a cross-sectional design, N = 164 mothers participated with their biological children (N = 226 children, aged 0-18 years) and evaluated BO probes of their own and four other, sex-matched children. Those varied in age and in genetic similarity, which was assessed by human leucocyte antigen profiling. The study showed not only that mothers identified and preferred their own child's BO, but also that genetic similarity and developmental status are transcribed in BOs. Accordingly, maternal preference of their own child's odour changes throughout development. Our data partly supported the Westermarck effect: mothers' preference of pubertal boys' BOs was negatively related to testosterone for the own son, but not for unfamiliar children. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Olfactory communication in humans'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Schäfer
- Department of Psychosomatics, Technische Universität, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Agnieszka Sorokowska
- Department of Psychosomatics, Technische Universität, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Smell and Taste Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, pl. Dawida 1, 50-527, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | - Alexander H. Schmidt
- DKMS, Kressbach 1, 72072 Tübingen, Germany
- DKMS Life Science Lab, St. Petersburger Straße 2, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Psychosomatics, Technische Universität, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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19
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Schäfer L, Sorokowska A, Weidner K, Croy I. Children's Body Odors: Hints to the Development Status. Front Psychol 2020; 11:320. [PMID: 32194481 PMCID: PMC7064733 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Mothers can recognize their own children by body odor. Besides signaling familiarity, children's body odors may provide other information relevant to maternal caregiving behavior, such as the child's developmental status. Thus, we explored whether mothers are able to classify body odors on pre- vs. postpubertal status above chance levels. In total, 164 mothers were presented with body odor samples of their own and four unfamiliar, sex-matched children who varied in age (range 0-18 years). Pubertal status was measured by (a) determining the child's steroid hormone level and (b) parental assessment of the child's developmental stage using the Pubertal Development Scale. Mothers classified developmental status with an accuracy of about 64%. Maternal assessments were biased toward pre-puberty. Classification was predicted by perceptual evaluation of the body odor (i.e. intensity and pleasantness) and by the child's developmental stage, but not by hormones. In specific, mothers with pubertal-aged children classified body odors using the child's developmental status, whereas mothers with younger children only classified body odors using perceptual information (i.e. intensity and pleasantness). Our data suggests that body odors convey developmental cues, but how this developmental information is manifested in body odor remains unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Schäfer
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Agnieszka Sorokowska
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Kerstin Weidner
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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20
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Uebi T, Hariyama T, Suzuki K, Kanayama N, Nagata Y, Ayabe-Kanamura S, Yanase S, Ohtsubo Y, Ozaki M. Sampling, identification and sensory evaluation of odors of a newborn baby's head and amniotic fluid. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12759. [PMID: 31485001 PMCID: PMC6726625 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49137-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
For baby odor analyses, noninvasive, stress-free sample collection is important. Using a simple method, we succeeded in obtaining fresh odors from the head of five newborn babies. These odors were chemically analyzed by two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC × GC-MS), and compared with each other or with the odor of amniotic fluid from the baby's mother. We identified 31 chemical components of the volatile odors from neonate heads and 21 from amniotic fluid. Although 15 of these components were common to both sources, there was an apparent difference in the GC × GC patterns between the head and amniotic fluid odors, so the neonate head odor might be individually distinct immediately after birth. Therefore, we made artificial mixtures of the major odor components of the neonate head and maternal amniotic fluid, and used psychological tests to examine whether or not these odors could be distinguished from each other. Our data show that the artificial odor of a neonate head could be distinguished from that of amniotic fluid, and that the odors of artificial head odor mixtures could be correctly discriminated for neonates within an hour after birth and at 2 or 3 days of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Uebi
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.
| | - Takahiko Hariyama
- Preeminent Medical Photonics Education & Research Center, Institute for NanoSuit Research, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Kazunao Suzuki
- Perinatal Medical Center, Hamamatsu University Hospital, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Naohiro Kanayama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Nagata
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Saho Ayabe-Kanamura
- Division of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shihoko Yanase
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Yohsuke Ohtsubo
- Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Humanities, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Mamiko Ozaki
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
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21
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Sollai G, Melis M, Magri S, Usai P, Hummel T, Tomassini Barbarossa I, Crnjar R. Association between the rs2590498 polymorphism of Odorant Binding Protein (OBPIIa) gene and olfactory performance in healthy subjects. Behav Brain Res 2019; 372:112030. [PMID: 31195037 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Olfactory function varies by several orders of magnitude among healthy individuals, who may exhibit a reduced sensitivity (hyposmia), a high sensitivity (hyperosmia), or an olfactory blindness (anosmia). Environmental and genetic factors seem to account for this variability. Most of odorant molecules are hydrophobic and it has been suggested that odorants are transported to the olfactory receptors by means of odorant binding proteins (OBPs). Aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of a relationship between the olfactory performance of healthy subjects and the polymorphism in the odor binding-protein (OBPIIa) gene, the only OBP found in the olfactory epithelium of humans. Using the "Sniffin' Sticks" Extended Test we assessed the olfactory performance in 69 subjects, who were genotyped for the rs2590498 polymorphism of the OBPIIa gene, whose major allele A has been associated with a higher retronasal perception as compared to the minor allele G. We found that subjects homozygous for the A-allele exhibited threshold scores higher than subjects homozous for the G-allele or heterozygous. In addition, subjects classified as normosmic and hyposmic differed on the basis of genotype distribution and allelic frequencies. In fact, a normosmic condition was associated with genotype AA and allele A and a hyposmic condition was associated with genotype GG and allele G. In conclusion, our results show that a relationship exists between the physiological variations of olfactory performance and the OBPIIa gene polymorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Sollai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sect. of Physiology, University of Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Melania Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sect. of Physiology, University of Cagliari, Italy
| | - Salvatore Magri
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico of Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paolo Usai
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico of Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Roberto Crnjar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sect. of Physiology, University of Cagliari, Italy
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22
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Do women love their partner's smell? Exploring women's preferences for and identification of male partner and non-partner body odor. Physiol Behav 2019; 210:112517. [PMID: 30982654 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite evidence indicating body odor (BO) preference is an important driver in mate selection, previous studies have only investigated females' preferences for the BO of strangers. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to determine if partnered females prefer their partner's BO compared to that of others males' BO. Forty partnered and 42 single, heterosexual women aged 18-35 years, brought to the laboratory a shirt their partner or male friend/relative (respectively) sweated in while wearing. The results indicated that both partnered and single women (blindly) rated their known donor's BO as smelling significantly more similar, familiar and sexy compared to six unknown male's BO, but rated their known donor's BO as less intense smelling than unknown males' BO. While participants indicated they liked their known donor's BO more than that of unknown males' BO, the difference was not statistically significant. Moreover, participants were unlikely to rank their known donor's BO as their most preferred of seven BOs. Finally, partnered and single participants could reliably recognise their known donor's BO and that of unknown males' which was driven by their ability to indicate a stranger's BO was not that of known donor's. Overall, these preliminary findings suggest that partnered females may prefer their partners' BO but this preference may not be due to mate selection but instead a consequence of repeated exposure to their partner's BO.
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