pherine

{{COI|date=January 2016}}

Pherines, also known as vomeropherines, are odorless synthetic neuroactive steroids that engage nasal chemosensory receptors and induce dose-dependent and reversible pharmacological and behavioral effects.{{cite journal|last1=Liebowitz|first1=Michael R.|last2=Salman|first2=Ester|last3=Nicolini|first3=Humberto|last4=Rosenthal|first4=Norman|last5=Hanover|first5=Rita|last6=Monti|first6=Louis|title=Effect of an Acute Intranasal Aerosol Dose of PH94B on Social and Performance Anxiety in Women With Social Anxiety Disorder|journal=American Journal of Psychiatry|volume=171|issue=6|year=2014|pages=675–682|issn=0002-953X|doi=10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.12101342|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261511611|pmid=24700254|s2cid=38510058 }}{{cite journal|last1=Monti-Bloch|first1=L.|last2=Jennings-White|first2=C.|last3=Dolberg|first3=D.S.|last4=Berliner|first4=D.L.|title=The human vomeronasal system|journal=Psychoneuroendocrinology|volume=19|issue=5–7|year=1994|pages=673–686|issn=0306-4530|doi=10.1016/0306-4530(94)90049-3|pmid=7938363|s2cid=36129626 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Berliner DL, Monti-Bloch L, Jennings-White C, Diaz-Sanchez V | title = The functionality of the human vomeronasal organ (VNO): evidence for steroid receptors | journal = J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. | volume = 58 | issue = 3 | pages = 259–65 | year = 1996 | pmid = 8836161 | doi = 10.1016/0960-0760(96)00062-3| s2cid = 31206207 }}{{cite journal | vauthors = Monti-Bloch L, Diaz-Sanchez V, Jennings-White C, Berliner DL | title = Modulation of serum testosterone and autonomic function through stimulation of the male human vomeronasal organ (VNO) with pregna-4,20-diene-3,6-dione | journal = J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. | volume = 65 | issue = 1–6 | pages = 237–42 | year = 1998 | pmid = 9699878 | doi = 10.1016/s0960-0760(98)00025-9}} Pherines target human chemosensory receptors and possibly other receptors such as the GABA_A receptor and influence central nervous system activity.

Currently known pherine molecules are being developed for the treatment of various medical conditions. Pherines specifically target nasal chemosensory cells{{cite journal|last1=Monti-Bloch|first1=L|last2=Jennings-White|first2=C|last3=Berliner|first3=DL|title=The human vomeronasal system: a review|journal=Ann NY Acad Sci|date=1988|volume=855|pages=373–89|pmid=9929629|doi=10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb10595.x|s2cid=38973467}}{{cite journal|last1=Winegar|first1=B|last2=Monti-Bloch|first2=L|title=Vomeropherins produce low-frequency calcium oscillations in human vomeronasal neurons|journal=Chem Senses|date=2003|volume=25th ACHEMS Meeting|issue=Sarasota, FL|page=83}} and mediate selective modulation of brain areas like the limbic amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex.{{cite journal|last1=Sobel|first1=N|last2=Prabhakaran|first2=V|author3-link=Catherine Hartley|last3=Hartley|first3=CA|last4=Desmond|first4=JE|author5-link=Gary H. Glover|last5=Glover|first5=GH|last6=Sullivan|first6=EV|author7-link=John Gabrieli|last7=Gabrieli|first7=JD|title=Blind smell: brain activation induced by an undetected air-borne chemical|journal=Brain|date=1999|volume=122|issue=Pt 2|pages=209–17|pmid=10071050|doi=10.1093/brain/122.2.209|doi-access=free}} In clinical trials, pherines formulated for intranasal administration in ultra low doses (nanogram to low microgram quantities) showed rapid onset of efficacy (10–15 minutes) and an excellent safety and tolerability profile. Pherines are also minimally invasive (do not require systemic absorption) to exert their pharmacological effects and can be used on demand {{cite journal|last1=Freeman|first1=E|last2=Monti-Bloch|first2=L|title=Evaluation of a unique new intranasal aerosol in the treatment of clinically significant premenstrual syndrome|date=2007|volume=47th NCDEU Meeting|issue=Boca Raton, Florida}}{{cite journal|last1=Liebowitz|first1=MR|last2=Salman|first2=E|last3=Nicolini|first3=H|last4=Rosenthal|first4=N|last5=Hanover|first5=R|last6=Monti|first6=L|title=Effect of an acute intranasal aerosol dose of PH94B on social and performance anxiety in women with social anxiety disorder|journal=Am J Psychiatry|date=2014|volume=171|issue=6|pages=675–82|doi=10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.12101342|pmid=24700254|s2cid=38510058 }}{{cite journal|last1=Liebowitz|first1=MR|last2=Nicolini|first2=H|last3=Monti|first3=L|last4=Hanover|first4=R|title=PH 10 may be a new rapidly acting intranasally administered antidepressant|date=2013|volume=American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (ASCP) Annual Meeting, Miami, Florida}}

Pherines described in the scientific literature include PH10, PH15, PH80, PH284 and fasedienol (PH94B, Aloradine, or 4,16-androstadien-3β-ol, a positional isomer of androstadienol).{{cite journal|last1=Monti-Bloch|first1=Louis|last2=Jennings-White|first2=Clive|last3=Berliner|first3=David L.|title=The Human Vomeronasal System: A Review|journal=Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences|volume=855|issue=1 OLFACTION AND|year=1998|pages=373–389|issn=0077-8923|doi=10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb10595.x|pmid=9929629|bibcode=1998NYASA.855..373M |s2cid=38973467 }} Pherines are chemically and pharmacologically different from natural pheromones including androstadienone, androstenone, androstenol, androsterone, and estratetraenol.