(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 8.481,020 B2 Nouvel Et Al
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
USOO8481020B2 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 8.481,020 B2 Nouvel et al. (45) Date of Patent: Jul. 9, 2013 (54) PHEROMONE COMPOSITIONS AND (58) Field of Classification Search METHODS OF USE None See application file for complete search history. (75) Inventors: Larry Nouvel, Plano, TX (US); Luis Rios, Pembroke Pines, FL (US); Cuong (56) References Cited Tu Ba, Miami, FL (US) U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS (73) Assignee: Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc., 6,077,867 A 6/2000 Pageat Omaha, NE (US) 6,169,113 B1 1/2001 Pageat 6,384.252 B1* 5/2002 Pageat ... 554.223 (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 2009/0275670 A1* 11/2009 Marshall . 514,772.3 patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. OTHER PUBLICATIONS International Search Report and Opinion issued in PCT/US 10/61564 (21) Appl. No.: 12/974,565 dated Mar. 3, 2011. (22) Filed: Dec. 21, 2010 * cited by examiner Prior Publication Data (65) Primary Examiner — Neil Levy US 2011 FO150822 A1 Jun. 23, 2011 (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Polsinelli PC Related U.S. Application Data (57) ABSTRACT (60) Provisional application No. 61/288,643, filed on Dec. 21, 2009. Pheromone compositions based on a combination of squalene, linoleic acid and 1-docosanol are described. The (51) Int. C. compositions are useful for behavior modification in mam AOIN 25/02 (2006.01) mals that exhibit undesirable or harmful stress-related behav (52) U.S. C. 1O.S. USPC ............. 424/84; 424/405; 424/406; 514/560; 514/724:514/760 8 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets Behavior improvement Feliway diffuser Cat Collar Feliway diffuser Cat Collar U.S. Patent Jul. 9, 2013 Sheet 1 of 2 US 8.481,020 B2 60% 53% O c Marked improvement Some improvement No change FIG. U.S. Patent Jul. 9, 2013 Sheet 2 of 2 US 8.481,020 B2 Behavior improvement Feliway diffuser Cat Collar Cat Colar US 8,481,020 B2 1. 2 PHEROMONE COMPOSITIONS AND newborn mammals. Newborns, including humans, can iden METHODS OF USE tify the mother from her scent. This process may be crucial to bonding and Survival and is thought a likely candidate for CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED involving pheromone mechanisms in mammals. Thus grow APPLICATION ing evidence is consistent with an important role for phero mones in controlling mammalian behavior, and particularly This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional those behaviors associated with bonding, Socialization, Application Ser. No. 61/288,643 filed on Dec. 21, 2009, the aggression and stress. disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its In domestic, farm, and Zoo animals, including dogs, cats, entirety. 10 horses, Swine, cattle, tigers, lions, bears, elephants, etc., fear and anxiety arising from various sources frequently result in THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO AJOINT harmful or annoying behaviors that are not well tolerated by RESEARCH AGREEMENT the affected animal, other animals or human owners/handlers. For example, separation anxiety in dogs frequently results in The presently claimed invention was made by or on behalf 15 Soiling, excessive chewing or licking, property destruction, of the below listed parties to a joint research agreement. The constant barking, and hyperactivity. Pet cats under stress, for joint research agreement was in effect on or before the date instance, from the introduction of a new cat to the household, the claimed invention was made and the claimed invention will often spray, Scratch, claw, and make other displays of was made as a result of the activities undertaken within the aggression. Generally, a need is recognized for compositions Scope of the joint research agreement. The parties to the joint and methods that can be used on any affected domestic, farm, research agreement are Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. and or Zoo animal to control such undesirable behaviors. Gerald Marshall. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION 25 The inventors have discovered novel pheromone composi This invention relates generally to the field of animal tions that are useful for modifying behavior in mammals, and behavior and more particularly to pheromone compositions are particularly useful for modifying objectionable behaviors and methods of use for modifying animal behavior. in domestic animals that result from stress or anxiety. The compositions are based in part on the Surprising finding that BACKGROUND 30 squalene-based compositions (i.e. compositions comprising at least 30% by weight of squalene) are effective at modifying A pheromone is a chemical signaling compound naturally stress- or anxiety-related behaviors in domestic animals. produced by many animals that elicits a predictable and spe Accordingly, in one aspect there is provided a pheromone cific behavioral response in another member of the same composition for modifying behavior of a mammal, the com species. Pheromone compounds and functions vary and are 35 position comprising a mixture of at least 30% (% w/w) thought to include alarm pheromones, food trail pheromones, squalene, at least 10% (% w/w) linoleic acid, and at least 1% reproductive pheromones, and probably many others affect (% w/w) 1-docosanol. ing animal behavior. Although originally and most well docu In another aspect there is provided a pheromone composi mented in insect species, pheromones are the Subject of tion for modifying behavior of a mammal, the composition increasing study and recognition is growing of the role that 40 comprising 30%-80% (% w/w) squalene, 10-75% (% w/w) pheromones play in modifying the behavior of mammalian linoleic acid, and 1%-10% (% w/w) 1-docosanol. species. In another aspect there is provided a pheromone solution In mammals pheromones are thought to be detected by for modifying behavior of a mammal, the composition com olfactory membranes or by the vomeronasal organ (VNO or prising about 1%-15% by volume of a mixture of 30%-35% Jacobson’s organ), which is positioned between the nose and 45 (% w/w) squalene, 55-65% (% w/w) linoleic acid, 2%-5% (% mouth and functions as the first stage of the accessory olfac w/w) 1-docosanol, and 1%-5% (% w/w) cholesterol, and tory system. However, unlike regular olfactory membranes, about 70%-90% by volume of an organic solvent. the VMO is connected directly to the mid-brain and thus In another aspect there is provided a pheromone solution enjoys the shortest organ-to-brain distance in mammals. This for modifying behavior of a mammal, the composition com feature allows pheromones present in extremely small quan 50 prising about 1%-15% by volume of a mixture of 30%-35% tities to very selectively trigger certain biochemical processes (% w/w) squalene, 55-65% (% w/w) linoleic acid, 2%-5% (% in the animal. Moreover, pheromone signals go directly to w/w) 1-docosanol, and 2%-10% (% w/w) of a mixture of at Subconscious areas of brain without being processed by the least two fatty acids other than linoleic acid, and about 70%- conscious brain, and thus pheromone effects are both rapid 90% by volume of an organic solvent. and Subconscious. While the precise mechanisms underlying 55 In another aspect there is provided a pheromone solution pheromone effects on the mammalian brain remain to be for modifying behavior of a mammal, the composition com further explored and characterized, a growing body of evi prising about 1%-15% by volume of a mixture of 30%-35% dence indicates clear behavioral effects likely involving at (% w/w) squalene, 55-65% (% w/w) linoleic acid, 2%-5% (% least hormonal responses. For example, studies of the house w/w) 1-docosanol, 1%-5% (% w/w) cholesterol and 2%-10% mouse have revealed a complex pheromone communication 60 (% w/w) of a mixture of at least two fatty acids other than system for signaling inter-male aggression and dominance, linoleic acid, and about 70%-90% by volume of an organic mating readiness, and for signaling stress to the other mem solvent. bers of the colony. All of these behaviors have demonstrated In another aspect there is provided a pheromone solution correlations with hormonal pathways. Pheromone effects for modifying behavior of a mammal, the composition com may also be mediated by basic olfactory mechanisms and 65 prising about 1%-15% by volume of a mixture of 65%-70% behavioral effects associated with olfactory processing. For (% w/w) squalene, 18%–21% (% w/w) linoleic acid, 2%-5% example, olfactory processing is known to be important for (% w/w) 1-docosanol, and 7%-9% (% w/w) of a mixture of at US 8,481,020 B2 3 4 least two fatty acids other than linoleic acid, and about 70%- included, contributes 0.1%-10% (% w/w) to the composition, 90% by volume of an organic solvent. and preferably contributes 1%-5% (% w/w) to the composi In another aspect there is provided a pheromone solution tion. Similarly, a mixture of fatty acids, when included, con for modifying behavior of a mammal, the composition com tributes 0.1%-10% (% w/w) to the composition, and prefer prising about 1%-15% by volume of a mixture of 65%-70% ably contributes 2%-9% (% w/w). When both cholesteroland (% w/w) squalene, 18%–21% (% w/w) linoleic acid, 2%-5% a mixture of additional fatty acids are included in the compo (% w/w) 1-docosanol, 7%–9% (% w/w) of a mixture of at least sition, the combined components together contribute no more two fatty acids other than linoleic acid and 1% (% w/w) than about 10% (% w/w) to the composition. cholesterol, and about 70%-90% by volume of an organic Squalene is a natural organic compound originally solvent.