This compound
was described to me by Clive Jennings-White (chemist for Erox/Pherin/HPS) as a progesteronic pheromone. Progesterone
is high during pregnancy and at the time a woman has her period. Lower LH and T would be the likely result of a
signal saying "find someone else; you cannot get me pregnant," while the ovulatory phase estrogenic pheromones
(copulins) signal "come and get me pregnant" by raising LH and testosterone. This is basically what happens in other
mammals to ensure what's called "properly timed reproductive sexual behavior."
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The following is pure speculation--supported
by animal research but not by human studies.
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If
male pheromone enhancement causes a decline in LH and testosterone in other males, it is not merely a function of
the pheromone--it is the combination of their own associations with dominant males (at least, in theory). If they
tend to come up the loser, we can expect a decline in testosterone levels will accompany the expectation (so
they're less likely to put up a fight--again, from an animalistic approach). But male pheromone enhancement effects
on the wearer should not have the same effect as extra pheromones have on another male. Indeed, they might have the
opposite effect, making him unconsciously aware that he is the dominant male--perhaps even increasing his
testosterone levels.
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Berliner, D.L., Monti-Bloch, L.,
Jennings-White, C., & Diaz-Sanchez, V. (1996) Functionality of the human vomeronasal organ (VNO): Evidence for
steroid receptors. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 58, 3, 259-265.
The citation above is
where the authors say that the progesteronic pheromone lowered testosterone. The question that remains is why they
never tested androstadienone to see if it raised testosterone (or did they?).
JVK
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