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Sci. STKE, 7 January 2003
Vol. 2003, Issue 164, p. tw16
[DOI: 10.1126/stke.2003.164.tw16]

EDITORS' CHOICE

OLFACTION Mother Nose Best

Changes in the numbers of olfactory neurons or in neuroblast migration to the olfactory bulb can affect abilities to discriminate odors or establish new odor-related memories. Studying female mice, Shingo et al. show that the hormone prolactin induces increased production of olfactory cell precursors. The prolactin-induced changes were apparent during pregnancy and also just after mating. Odor discrimination contributes to recognition of mates and offspring. These insights into prolactin-regulated neurogenesis may provide a physiological basis for understanding certain complex, seemingly social, behaviors.

T. Shingo, C. Gregg, E. Enwere, H. Fujikawa, R. Hassam, C. Geary, J. C. Cross, S. Weiss, Pregnancy-stimulated neurogenesis in the adult female forebrain mediated by prolactin. Science 299, 117-120 (2003). [Abstract] [Full Text]

Citation: Mother Nose Best. Sci. STKE 2003, tw16 (2003).

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