Chiral influence of sex pheromonal substances on responses of the male American cockroach

Summary In order to elucidate the roles of optical enantiomers of sex pheromonal substances of the American cockroach, behavioral assays with a single enantiomer and with mixtures of enantiomers of sex pheromone mimics were carried out. Inactive enantiomers [(–)-enantiomers] had no influence on the potency of enantiomers active as sex pheromones [(+)-enantiomers]. By analysis of the results from EAG recordings with single and mixed sample of the enantiomers, it was confirmed that (–)-enantiomers did not react with the sex pheromone receptors which are responsive to (+)-enantiomers.We acknowledge technical assistance from Miss R. Kimura.