Behavioral and neurobiological implications of kairomones for rodents: an updated review.

Like many other vertebrates, rodents communicate via pheromones, which favors intraspecies communication. In contrast, kairomones are semiochemicals involved in interspecific communication, facilitating information between organisms of different species but advantageous for the receiver. Kairomones induce behavioral, physiological, and endocrinological changes in rodents, and have been proven to activate specific neuronal pathways in one or multiple components of the olfactory system (the main olfactory system, accessory olfactory system, and Gruenberg ganglion).