Les phￃﾩromones humaines ont-elles unￂﾠintￃﾩrￃﾪt

Sexologies 16 (2007) 15–21
a v a i l a b l e a t w w w. s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m
j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : h t t p : / / f r a n c e . e l s e v i e r. c o m / d i r e c t / S E X O L /
ARTICLE ORIGINAL / ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Les phéromones humaines ont-elles un intérêt
pratique en sexologie ?
Are human pheromones of practical interest
in sexology?
J. Vergriete (MD)
53, rue du Général-Leclerc, 94000 Créteil, France
Disponible sur internet le 12 janvier 2007
MOTS CLÉS
Phéromone ;
Comportement sexuel ;
Organe voméro-nasal ;
Androsténone ;
Androsténol
Résumé Une lecture de la littérature médicale depuis les premières observations, permet de
suivre l’évolution du concept des phéromones humaines, sujet mi-scientifique mijournalistique. Deux phéromones sont actuellement commercialisées : l’androsténone et
l’androsténol, conseillées dans le but d’améliorer l’attraction sexuelle, leurs effets démontrés
sont modestes. L’androsténol possède la propriété de synchroniser le cycle menstruel.
L’androsténone a un effet d’attraction chez la femme et d’inhibition de l’homme dans le
choix de photographies ou de chaises imprégnées. C’est au début des années 1960, que
Michaël décrit, dans les sécrétions vaginales, des substances identiques à celles retrouvées
dans les sécrétions vaginales du macaque. Ces sécrétions étaient connues pour déclencher
chez l’animal l’intérêt sexuel. Ces observations sont le point de départ de recherche des phéromones sur le comportement sexuel humain. Les découvertes ultérieures confirment la réalité d’un système phéromonal chez l’Homme. Le système olfactif accessoire (ou organe de
Jacobson) nécessaire à la reconnaissance des phéromones est fonctionnel. Homo Sapiens
Sapiens possède la capacité de traiter l’information des phéromones, mais leur impact sur le
comportement sexuel est résiduel. Les études pertinentes demeurent peu nombreuses. Ces
molécules sont néanmoins capables de modifier le cycle menstruel, l’ovulation de la femme
ainsi que son humeur.
© 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits réservés.
KEYWORDS
Pheromone;
Sexual behaviour;
Vomeronasal organ;
Androstenone;
Androstenol
Abstract A review of medical literature since the first observations enables us to monitor
developments in the concept of human pheromones, a semi-journalistic and semi-scientific
subject. Two pheromones are currently on the market: androstenone and androstenol. Recommended for increasing sexual attraction, their effects are modest. androstenol has the property to synchronize the menstrual cycle, whilst androstenone has an effect of attraction on
women and inhibition on men. Analyzing people’s choices amongst photographs or sprayed
chairs has tested this attraction. At the beginning of the 1960’s, Michaël described identical
Adresse e-mail : [email protected] (J. Vergriete).
1158-1360/$ - see front matter © 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits réservés.
doi:10.1016/j.sexol.2006.05.005
16
J. Vergriete
substances in vaginal secretions of women and monkeys. These secretions were known to
arouse the animals’ sexual interest. These observations are the starting point of research into
the effects of pheromones on human sexual behaviour. Later discoveries confirmed the existence of human pheromones and their effects. The additional olfactive system (or Jacobson’s
organ necessary for the recognition of pheromones) is functional in man. Homo Sapiens
Sapiens has the capacity to process information from pheromones, but their impact on sexual
behaviour is residual. The relevant studies remain few and far between. These molecules are
nevertheless able to modify the menstrual cycle, control ovulation and regulate mood cycles
in women.
© 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits réservés.
Abridged version
The concept of human pheromones raises legitimate curiosity amongst our patients. Some have been tempted to use
them with the hope of increasing their sexual activity,
“androstenol” and “androsterone” in this case.
Pheromone – Definition
The concept of pheromones was developed for insects. Berthe, in 1932, described chemical substances secreted by
insects as follows: “Pheromones are substances which are
secreted outside by one individual, then perceived by another individual of the same species, causing a specific behavioral reaction, and even a physiological modification”.
Roles
The more primitive the animal is, the more significant the
role of pheromones. These chemical molecules contribute
to the definition of territorial rights and social status, especially in mammals with nocturnal activity, where they intervene in the regulation of the oestrus and of the reproduction cycles; they play a role in sexual attraction. Whitten’s
studies of the mouse (1956) note that the presence of the
male exerts a twofold action: synchronization and shortening of the oestrus cycle. The blocking of the oestrus is carried out when several females are in the same cage. Olfactory communication is the probable intermediary in the
modification of the oestrus cycle.
Birth of a Concept
The assumption that human pheromones exist is a recent
idea.
Although some precursors such as Darwin offer hypotheses on the role of odors in human communication, this
mechanism was denied until the end of the 19th century.
Some observations were already well-known. Young
women living together synchronize their menstruation.
When the duration of cohabitation is prolonged the cycles
lengthen, until ovulation. It was coined as “the syndrome of
the French boarding school”. The synchronization of cycles
is currently described as the “Mac Clintock effect”. Androstenol is responsible for this synchronization (Preti et al.,
1986). The use of vaginal secretions with the aim of increasing sexual interest from males is another example: until
the 18th century some women carried small bags around
their neck, “scented” between their thighs to maintain
their companion’s interest. Today, Brazilian peasant
women are still said to use worn underpants as a coffee filter.
The first human observations emerged in the sixties
Detection of 5 alpha-androst-16-ene-3-ol (androstenol)
in male urine
Broosbank, (1962) detected 5 alpha-androst-16-ene-3-ol
(androstenol) in male urine.
He found quantities of androstenol in males three times
lower than in females. In 1974, with his collaborators, he
announced the presence of androstone in the male axillary
glands. He managed to extract it from male urine. These
steroids produced by pigs, whose role as a sexual attractant
was known, were present in man. Androstone has a bitter
odor and androstenol has a strong and musky odor. They are
derivatives of the metabolism of dehydriepiandrosterone,
stored in the axillary glands.
By observing the rhesus monkey, Michael put forward
the idea that a sexual attraction is exerted by vaginal
secretions of the female during the period of
reproduction
Several fatty acids are identified as responsible for this
attraction. These same fatty acids are present in the
human female. The same team extracted them in 1975.
The following work affirmed the existence
of a functional system in men
To confirm the concept, men must excrete the pheromones
but also be able to perceive them.
The vomeronasal organ (VNO)
The olfactive system in mammals is double: the principal
system, represented by the olfactive mucous membrane,
and the VNO. The additional olfactive pheromone is perceived by the body. The volatile substance conveyed by the air
acts remotely on the olfactive structures of the nasal
mucous membrane. The less volatile substances like pheromones take effect by directly contacting the sensory cells
of the VNO. The first, by cortical projection, intervenes in
the advent of emotions or deliberate behaviour. The second
is implied in the physiological or behavioural reaction.
Is the VNO present and functional in Man?. The question
was answered recently. The vomeronasal organ is described
in males and it has a functional activity. However its zone of
projection, the accessory olfactory bulb is not described in
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343267
Title
Lesphéromoneshumainesont-ellesunintérêtpratiqueensexologie?
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