Uenoyama, Reiko, Miyazaki, Tamako, Hurst, Jane L 
ORCID: 0000-0002-3728-9624, Beynon, Robert J ORCID: 0000-0003-0857-495X, Adachi, Masaatsu, Murooka, Takanobu, Onoda, Ibuki, Miyazawa, Yu, Katayama, Rieko, Yamashita, Tetsuro et al (show 3 more authors)
(2021)
The characteristic response of domestic cats to plant iridoids allows them to gain chemical defense against mosquitoes.
SCIENCE ADVANCES, 7 (4).
eabd9135-.
ISSN 2375-2548, 2375-2548
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Text
eabd9135.full.pdf - Published version Download (4MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Domestic cats and other felids rub their faces and heads against catnip (<i>Nepeta cataria</i>) and silver vine (<i>Actinidia polygama</i>) and roll on the ground as a characteristic response. While this response is well known, its biological function and underlying mechanism remain undetermined. Here, we uncover the neurophysiological mechanism and functional outcome of this feline response. We found that the iridoid nepetalactol is the major component of silver vine that elicits this potent response in cats and other felids. Nepetalactol increased plasma β-endorphin levels in cats, while pharmacological inhibition of μ-opioid receptors suppressed the classic rubbing response. Rubbing behavior transfers nepetalactol onto the faces and heads of respondents where it repels the mosquito, <i>Aedes albopictus</i> Thus, self-anointing behavior helps to protect cats against mosquito bites. The characteristic response of cats to nepetalactol via the μ-opioid system provides an important example of chemical pest defense using plant metabolites in nonhuman mammals.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 3009 Veterinary Sciences, 30 Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 11 Feb 2021 10:07 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Dec 2024 11:12 |
| DOI: | 10.1126/sciadv.abd9135 |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3107842 |
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