| Title: | Rat cheek gland compounds: behavioural response to identified compounds |
| Address: | "Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India. skanmbt2000@yahoo.com" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0019-5189 (Print) 0019-5189 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Cheek gland secretions from sexually mature and reproductively active male and female laboratory rats (Wister strain), Rattus norvegicus albinus were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Alkanes, aliphatic acids esters and alcohols were identified in the secretions. Cheek gland preparation from males contained predominantly three compounds, viz. di-n-octyl phthalate (I); 1,2-benzene diacarboxylic acid butyl (2-ethyl hexyl) ester (II); and 1,2 benzene dicarboxylic acid (2-methylpropyl) ester (III) whereas in the cheek gland of females two compounds, viz, 1,2-benzene dicarboxylic acid (2-methylpropyl) ester (I); and 2,6,10 dedecatrien-1-ol, 3,7,11-trimethyl-(Z, E) (II) were the major fractions. The identified compounds were tested for odour preferences. Compounds II and III of males and I and II of females attracted both male and female conspecifics. By contrast, compound I from males only attracted females. The level of attraction also varied from compound to compound. The results suggest that cheek gland secretions have pheromonal functions" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Behavior, Animal/drug effects/*physiology Cheek/*physiology Exocrine Glands/*chemistry Female Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Male Pheromones/isolation & purification/*pharmacology Rats Rats, Wistar;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineKannan, S Archunan, G eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't India 2002/02/08 Indian J Exp Biol. 2001 Sep; 39(9):887-91" |
