Properties of volatile compounds excreted by animals previously exposed to ionizing radiation and distant bystander effect

It is well known that animals transmit information about their species, hierarchy within a group, genotype, sex, reproductive status, health abnormalities via chemical signals. Study of chemosignals communicative properties is a central subject of the research. Authors assessed effects of different factors on the capacity of the volatile compounds excreted by irradiated mice in urine to modify behavior (preference/avoidance test) and immune reactivity of intact mice. These highly volatile compounds belong to different chemical classes. Volatile compounds excreted by mice exposed to sublethal radiation doses are attractive for intact recipients mice, on the other hand, volatile substances from mice exposed to lethal radiation doses are repellent. The attractive volatile compounds can be identified as releaser pheromones, which initiate quick physiological response in recipients. The new results of study show that mechanism of “inter-mammal” bystander effect is more complicated than previously reported.