Abstract
IN 1957 I proposed the term ‘telergones’ (from the Greek tele—afar and ergon—action) for the designation of all biologically active substances secreted by animals into their environment and influencing other organisms1. These substances are products of external secretion and differ principally by their importance for the animals from hormones, para-hormones and other substances which display their physiological action within the organism producing them. The site of production of telergones are special unicellular or multicellular glands, the ducts of which open singly or in groups on to different parts of the body surface or into various cavities opening to the outside. In many instances there are accessory adjustments for pushing out, sprinkling and exhalation of telergones or for introducing them into the body of other animals.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kirschenblatt, J. D., Travaux Soc. Natur. Leningrad, 73, No. 4, 225 (1957).
Kirschenblatt, J. D., Uspekhi sovremen. biol., 46, 322 (1958).
Karlson, P., and Lüscher, M., Nature, 183, 55 (1959).
Micklem, H. S., Karlson, P., and Lüscher, M., Nature, 183, 1835 (1959).
Frisch, K. von, Z. vergl. Physiol., 29, 46 (1941).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
KIRSCHENBLATT, J. Terminology of Some Biologically Active Substances and Validity of the Term ‘Pheromones’. Nature 195, 916–917 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1038/195916a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/195916a0
This article is cited by
-
Reflections on structure and function of pheromone glands in storage insect species
Anzeiger für Schädlingskunde Pflanzenschutz Umweltschutz (1995)
-
Is kairomone a valid and useful term?
Journal of Chemical Ecology (1982)
-
Sexualhormone der Schmetterlinge als Modelle chemischer Kommunikation
Die Naturwissenschaften (1973)
-
Recherches sur la biologie et l'éthologie deDolichoderus quadripunctatus (L.) (Hym. Form. Dolichoderidæ)
Insectes Sociaux (1968)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.