Compared to defects in vision or hearing, hypo/anosmia (loss of olfactory sense) has received less attention because of its less serious effect on daily life activities compared to blindness or deafness.  However, the dysfunction in olfactory sense often accompanies inabilities to appreciate food and to notice rotten food or toxic gas. Thus, studies on olfactory sense may significantly improve the quality of our life. Our physiological conditions are also more affected by the odor of people around us than we recognize.  Studies from 1970s have shown that women who live together and spend time together show synchronized menstrual cycles and recent studies have shown that hormone secretions are stimulated by exposure to the odors of opposite sex. In my recent studies, I have found in mice that sperm density is higher in male mice exposed to female-soiled bedding (Koyama and Kamimura 2000) and subordinate males show lower sperm motility (1999).  

In collaboration with analytical chemists in the Chemistry Department of IUB, I have also identified the male murine pheromones that enhance cell proliferation in the subventricular zone in the brain of female mice and female murine pheromones that do so in male mice (Koyama et al. 2013, 2014).  

We also found a new phenomenon for which exposure to a synthetic analogue of the male murine pheromone stimulates expansion of mammary glands in female mice and the offspring of these females showed higher cognitive function in spatial memory tests using a Morris water maze (Koyama et al. 2015) (Press release at IUB News Room: http://news.indiana.edu/releases/iu/2015/07/pheromone-intelligence-study.shtml).  

We are currently investigating the milk of these dams and the brain development in their offspring to obtain molecular mechanistic insight into the pheromone induced trans-generational influences. 

Another project we started is focusing on odorants (aromas) rather than pheromones and their influences on improving wound healing.  We hope to determine the odorants that enhance wound healing and suppress neuropathic pain.

Patent application Chemical component attractant for mice: Patent application number: JA03046, Japan

I am interested in utilizing odorants (aromas and pheromones) in improving our health conditions and treating, or enhancing the treatment of, wounds or diseases, stress and anxieties.  

Selected book publications

Single authored books

• Koyama, S., 2016. Primer Effects by Murine Pheromone Signaling. Springer International Publishing AG, Vienna, Austria. ISBN 978-3-319-13932-6, ISBN (ebook) 978-3-319-13933-3, Doi 10.1007/978-3-319-13933-3
• Koyama, S. 2008. Ethology of Olfactory Communication in Animals.  Fragrance Journal Inc., Tokyo, Japan (in Japanese). ISBN 978-4-89479-134-3, e-book: 2014
• Koyama, S. 1999 The History and Mechanism of Tricks using Varied Tits in Japan. Housei University Press, Tokyo (in Japanese).  ISBN978-4-588-76207-9(4-588-76207-9) C0045
• “Koyama, S. 1999 The History and Mechanism of Tricks using varied tits in Japan. Hosei University Press” was used in the entrance examination on Japanese literature by Kaetu University, Japan, in 2007, spring. 
• “Koyama, S. 1999 The History and Mechanism of Tricks using varied tits in Japan. Hosei University Press” received reviews on Sunday Book Review Column of major news papers: Yomiuri Shinbun (10/17/1999), Tokyo Shinbun (11/21/1999), Saitama Shinbun (11/07/1999); journals: Publication News, 1999, vol. 11, p.19, Wild Birds, 2000, no.627, p.20, Heredity, 2000, vol.54 (7), p.106-107, Siesta, 2000, Winter, p.20-21, Relatio, 2001, vol.10, p.105 

Chapters of books (selected)

• Koyama, S. 2010 Establishment and management of individual relationships: pair-bonding and social play behaviors. In Yasuhiko Kondo et al. eds Behavioral Neuroendocrinnology. Nishimura-shoten, Tokyo, Japan (in Japanese). ISBN?978-4-89013-396-3
• Koyama, S. 2007 Mechanisms of olfactory communication in rodents. In Tatsuaki Shibuya, Masumi Ichikawa eds The science of smells and odours. Asakura Shoten, Shinjuku, Japan, pp. 210-216 (in Japanese).  ISBN 9784254102079(4254102070)
• Koyama, S. 2007 History of keeping small birds and bird song contests in Japan. In The Association of Japanese University Presses ed. The Time of Natural History. The Association of Japanese University Presses, Tokyo, Japan, pp.42-44 (in Japanese).
• Koyama, S. & Kamimura, S. 2005, Soiled bedding from group-housed females exerts strong influence on male reproductive condition. In: R.T. Mason, M.P. LeMaster, and D.Müller-Schwarze eds, Chemical Signals in Vertebrates. Kluwer Academic/ Plenum Publishers, New York, pp. 168-172. ISBN: 978-0-387-25159-2 (Print) 978-0-387-25160-8 (Online)
• Koyama, S. 2002 The history and mechanism of tricks using varied tits. In: K. Ueda & O. Sakura eds. Curious Behaviors of Animals (1). Shokabo, Co., Tokyo, 151-161 (in Japanese). ISBN: 4-7853-8743-2
• Koyama, S. & Kamimura, S. 2001, Effects of social dominance and female odour on sperm activity of male mice. In: A. Marchlewska-Koj, J.J.Lepri, and D.Muller-Schwarze eds, Chemical Signals in Vertebrates. Kluwer Academic/ Plenum Publishers, New York, pp. 403-410. ISBN: 978-1-4613-5187-0 (Print) 978-1-4615-0671-3 (Online)

Selected research publications (after 1999)

• Koyama, S., Soini, H.A., Wager-Miller, J., Alley, W.R., Pizzo, M.J., Rodda, C., Alberts, J., Crystal, J.D., Lai, C., Foley, J., Novotny, M.V. 2015. Cross-generational Impact of a Male Murine Pheromone 2-sec-butyl-4,5-dihydrothiazole in Female Mice. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2015.1074   This paper received press release on 7/1/2015 on IUB website: http://news.indiana.edu/releases/iu/2015/07/pheromone-intelligence-study.shtml
• Koyama, S. 2015. History of bird keeping and the teaching of tricks using varied tits (Cyanistes varius) in Japan. Archives of Natural History, 42(2), 211-225.
• H-J Wu, T. Easwaran, C.D. Offutt, D. Spandau, S. Koyama, J. Foley. 2015. Expansion of specialized epidermis induced by hormonal state and mechanical strain. Mechanisms of Development. pii: S0925-4773(15)00019-2. doi: 10.1016/j.mod.2015.01.002  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25680535
• Koyama, S., Soini, H.A., Foley, J., Novotny, M.V., Lai, C. 2014. Pheromone-induced cell proliferation in the murine subventricular zone. Biochemical Society Transactions. 42(4), 882-885. DOI: 10.1042/BST20140112
• Koyama, S., Soini, H.A., Foley, J., Novotny, M.V., Lai, C. 2013. Stimulation of cell proliferation in the subventricular zone by synthetic murine pheromones. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00101 eCollection 2013. PMID: 23964214 Free PMC Article
• Koyama, S., Wu, H-J., Easwaran, T., Thopady, S., Foley, J. 2013.  The nipple: A simple intersection of mammary gland and integument, but focal point of organ function. Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia, 18, 121-131.  PMID: 23674217 PubMed
• Soini, H.A., Wiesler, D., Koyama, S., Féron, C., Baudoin, C., Novotny, MV. 2009 Comparison of uinary scents of two related mouse species, Mus spicilegus and Mus domesticus. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 35 (5), 580-589. PMID: 19390894 PubMed
• Novotny, MV, Soini, HA, Koyama, S., Wiesler, D., Bruce, KE, Penn, DJ. 2007 Chemical identification of MHC-influenced 4 volatile compounds in mouse urine. I: Quantitative 5 proportions of major chemosignals.  Journal of Chemical Ecology, 33, 417-434.  PubMed
• Koyama, S., Amarie, D., Soini, H.A., Novotny, M.V., Jacobson, S.C. 2006 Chemotaxis assays of mouse sperm on microfluidic devices. Analytical Chemistry, 78, 3354-3359.  PubMed
• Koyama, S. 2004 Primer effects by conspecific odours in house mice: a new perspective in the study of primer effects on reproductive activities. Hormones and Behaviour, 46, 303-310. PubMed
• Aikawa, H., Koyama, S., Matsuda, M., Nakahashi, K., Akazome, Y., Mori, T. 2004 Relief effect of vitamin A on the decreased motility of sperm and the increased incidence of malformed sperm in mice exposed neonatally to Bisphenol A. Cell and Tissue Research, 315, 119-124  PubMed
• Koyama, S. & Kamimura, S. 2003 Effects of vomeronasal organ removal on the sperm motility in male mice. Zoological Science, 20, 1355-1358.  PubMed
• Koyama, S. & Kamimura, S. 2003 Study on the developmental changes, variance of sperm motility, and social dominance of male mice. Physiology and Behaviour, 80, 267-272. PubMed
• Koyama, S. & Kamimura, S. 2000 Influence of social dominance and female odour on the sperm activity of male mice. Physiology and Behaviour, 71, 415-422.  PubMed
• Koyama, S. & Kamimura, S. 1999 Lowered sperm motility in mice of subordinate social status. Physiology and Behaviour, 65, 665-669. PubMed
• Selected review publications
• Koyama, S. 2016. Influences of pheromone on the next generations. Aroma Research, 17(3), 54-57.
• Koyama, S. 2016. Possible utilization of odorants in medical science. Aroma Research, 17(3), 90-93.
• Koyama, S. 2016. Primer effects in mice. Aroma Research, 17(2), 92-94.
• Koyama, S. 2015. Changes in olfactory sensitivity in mice. Aroma Research, 16(3) 86-89.
• Koyama, S. 2015. Expression of olfactory receptors in skin. Aroma Research, 16(2) 86-89.
• Koyama, S. 2015. Neurons involved in parental behavior. Aroma Research, 16(1), 79-83.
• Koyama, S. 2014. Olfactory critical period in mice. Aroma Research. 15(4), 73-77.
• Koyama, S. 2014. Trans-generational impact of the exposure to odor of acetophenone. Aroma Research, 15(3). 80-83.
• Koyama, S. 2014 Sexual differences in the responses to pheromones. Aroma Research, 15(1), 85-89.
• Koyama, S. 2013 Are identical twins the same? Aroma Research, 14(3), 82-85.
• Koyama, S. 2013 Are there pheromones in mouse milk? Aroma Research, 14(2), 90-93.
• Koyama, S. 2013 Distinguishing already mated females by pheromone. Aroma Research, 14(1), 85-89.
• Koyama, S. 2012 Influence of father on menarcheal age. Aroma Research, 13(4), 82-85.
• Koyama, S. 2012 The Bruce effect in wild gerada. Aroma Research 13(3), 86-89.
• Koyama, S. 2012 Influence of odors on neurogenesis of mice. Aroma Research, 13(1), 86-89.
• Koyama, S. 2011 Migration of GnRH neuron from nasal placode to basal forebrain. Aroma Research, 12(3), 88-91.
• Koyama, S. 2011 Hunger enhances olfactory sense? Aroma Research, 12(2), 87-91
• Koyama, S. 2010 Vibration theory of olfactory perception. Aroma Research, 11(4), 80-83
• Koyama, S. 2010 Increase of neurogenesis by pheromone. Aroma Reseasrch, 11(1), 76-77.
• Koyama, S. 2009 The function of neurogenesis at the subventricular zone of brain. Aroma Research, 10(4), 84-85.
• Koyama, S. 2009 A new family of vomeronasal chemosensors. Aroma Research, 10(3), 72-73.
• Koyama, S. 2009 Communication using odors in humansZA. Aroma Research, 10(1), 78-86.
• Koyama, S. 2006 Development of microfluidic devices for the studies on chemical communication in animals. Aroma Research, 7(3), 80-88.
• Stockley, P., Koyama, S. 2006 Sperm competition in rodents. Heredity, 60, 60-62.
• Koyama, S. 2006 Information transfer about food. Aroma Research, 7(2), 88-96.
• Koyama, S. 2006 Information transfer of odors of the food other animals ate.  Aroma Research, 7(1), 84-90.
• Koyama, S. 2005 Communication using odors at cell level. Aroma Research, 6(4), 85-93.
• Koyama, S. 2005 Do birds use odors in their communication? Aroma Research, 6(3), 85-91.
• Koyama, S. 2005 Pheromone of sea lamprey. Aroma Research, 6(2), 87-92.
• Koyama, S. 2005 Influence of mice odors on the aggressive behavior of mice. Aroma Research, 6(1), 88-93.
• Koyama, S. 2005 Influence of mice odors on the mate preference behavior of mice. Aroma Research, 5(3), 76-82.
• Koyama, S. 2004 Influence of mice odors on the physiological conditions of female mice. Aroma Research, 5(2), 81-87.
• Koyama, S. 2004 Influence of mice odors on the physiological conditions of male mice. Aroma Research, 5(1), 38-43.
• Koyama, S. 2002 The history of street performances using birds. The Japanese Journal of the History of Biology, 69, 108-109?
• Koyama, S. 2002 The history of tricks using varied tits and images of animals in Japan. Japanese Journal of Livestock Management, 37(3), 124-128.
• Koyama, S. 2001 Tricks using varied tits. Heredity, 55(1), p.1 (cover photos), 10-12.
• Koyama, S. 2000 Influences of social status on animals – influences on sperm activity. Heredity, 54(5), 45-50.

Awards

• 2014 Nominee for Leading Light Award (“You Inspire Us”) for women of achievement in science, education and technology, Woman & Hi-Tech