| Title: | "Comparison of urinary scents of two related mouse species, Mus spicilegus and Mus domesticus" |
| Author(s): | Soini HA; Wiesler D; Koyama S; Feron C; Baudoin C; Novotny MV; |
| Address: | "Department of Chemistry, Institute for Pheromone Research, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA" |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10886-009-9628-2 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1573-1561 (Electronic) 0098-0331 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Whereas the house mouse (Mus domesticus) has been studied extensively in terms of physiology/behavior and pheromonal attributes, the evolutionarily related mound-building mouse (Mus spicilegus) has received attention only recently due to its divergent behavioral traits related to olfaction. To date, no chemical studies on urinary volatile compounds have been performed on M. spicilegus. The rationale for our investigations was to determine if there are differences in urinary volatiles of intact and castrated M. spicilegus males and to explore further whether this species could utilize the same or structurally similar pheromones as the male house mouse, M. domesticus. The use of capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) together with sorptive stir bar extraction sampling enabled quantitative comparisons between the intact and castrated M. spicilegus urinary profiles. Additionally, through GC-MS and atomic emission (sulfur-selective) detection, we identified qualitative molecular differences between intact M. spicilegus and M. domesticus. A series of volatile and odoriferous lactones and the presence of coumarin were the unique features of M. spicilegus, as was the notable absence of 2-sec-butyl-4,5-dihydrothiazole (a prominent M. domesticus male pheromone) and other sulfur-containing compounds. Castration of M. spicilegus males eliminated several substances, including delta-hexalactone and gamma-octalactone, and substantially decreased additional compounds, suggesting their possible role in chemical communication. Some other M. domesticus pheromone components were also found in M. spicilegus urine. These comparative chemical analyses support the notion of metabolic similarities as well as the uniqueness of some volatiles for M. spicilegus, which may have a distinct physiological function in reproduction and behavior" |
| Keywords: | Animals Coumarins/urine Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Lactones/urine Male Mice/*urine Pheromones/*urine Smell/*physiology Species Specificity Thiazoles/urine; |
| Notes: | "MedlineSoini, Helena A Wiesler, Donald Koyama, Sachiko Feron, Christophe Baudoin, Claude Novotny, Milos V eng Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2009/04/25 J Chem Ecol. 2009 May; 35(5):580-9. doi: 10.1007/s10886-009-9628-2. Epub 2009 Apr 24" |
