MHC-associated and MHC-independent urinary chemosignals in mice are expressed via the hematopoietic system

The change in genetically determined urine odors which appears after experimental bone marrow transplantations in mice was examined in order to test whether the HMC is the only group of genes that influences the chemosensory identity via the hematopoietic system. 5 female rats were trained in a computer-controlled olfactometer to discriminate urine odors of two MHC congenic or background congenic inbred strains of mice. Transfer-of-training tests with urine samples of irradiated mice which were restored with bone marrow either from an MHC congenic or a background congenic inbred strain reveal a change of urinary chemosignals after both types of experimental bone marrow transplantation. Thus, both MHC-associated as well as MHC-independent urinary chemosignals are expressed via the hematopoietic system.