Volatile signals during pregnancy: A possible chemical basis for mother-infant recognition

Vaglio, S.; Minicozzi, P.; Bonometti, E.; Mello, G.; Chiarelli, B.

doi:10.1007/s10886-008-9573-5

Volatile signals during pregnancy: A possible chemical basis for mother-infant recognition

Vaglio, S.; Minicozzi, P.; Bonometti, E.; Mello, G.; Chiarelli, B.

Authors

S. Vaglio

P. Minicozzi

E. Bonometti

G. Mello

B. Chiarelli

Abstract

Human pheromones play a role in regulating relationships and apparently influence partner choice and mother–infant recognition. We analyzed the chemical content of volatiles from sweat patch samples from the para-axillary and nipple–areola regions of women during pregnancy and after childbirth. Solid phase microextraction was used to extract the volatile compounds, which were then characterized and quantified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. During pregnancy, women developed a distinctive pattern of five volatile compounds common to the para-axillary and nipple–areola regions (1-dodecanol, 1-1′-oxybis octane, isocurcumenol, α-hexyl-cinnamic aldehyde, and isopropyl myristate). These compounds were absent outside pregnancy and had slightly different patterns in samples from the two body areas. Differentiation of the volatile patterns among pregnant women may help newborns to distinguish their own mothers.

Citation

Vaglio, S., Minicozzi, P., Bonometti, E., Mello, G., & Chiarelli, B. (2009). Volatile signals during pregnancy: A possible chemical basis for mother-infant recognition. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 35(1), 131-139. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-008-9573-5

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Jan 1, 2009
Deposit Date	Oct 2, 2013
Publicly Available Date	Apr 16, 2014
Journal	Journal of Chemical Ecology
Print ISSN	0098-0331
Electronic ISSN	1573-1561
Publisher	Springer
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	35
Issue	1
Pages	131-139
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-008-9573-5
Keywords	Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), Human pheromones, Solid phase microextraction (SPME), Sweat patches, Volatile compounds.