Characterization of urinary volatiles in Swiss male mice (Mus musculus): bioassay of identified compounds (original) (raw)
Related papers
Animal Behaviour, 1985
The urine of intact, adult male mice elicits more investigatory sniffing from female mice than does the urine of castrated males. When either of two androgen-dependent urinary compounds, 2-sec-butyl dihydrothiazole or dehydro-exo-brevicomin are added to castrate urine, its relative attractiveness remains the same. When both compounds are added to castrate urine, however, its activity is enhanced and the castrate urine becomes as attractive to females as whole, intact male urine. Females exposed to the reconstituted 'normal' urine for 3 rain per day, displayed more frequent oestrus cycles. The two synthetic compounds are synergistic in the context of castrate urine, producing an olfactory message that behaviourally and physiologically mimics the activity of the normal biological signal.
Animal Reproduction Science, 2005
A previous investigation revealed that urine from normal male mice contained five unique volatile constituents; namely: 3-cyclohexene-1-methanol (I); 3-amino triazole (II); 4-ethyl phenol (III); 3ethyl-2,7-dimethyl octane (IV); 1-iodoundecane (V). The present study was designed to find out whether the production of these male specific urinary compounds was androgen-dependent. Urine of castrated and castrated plus testosterone-treated male mice was analyzed using gas chromatography linked mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Even though castrated male urine contained 10 detectable compounds, the five male specific compounds present in intact males were absent in castrated male mice urine. Only 3-ethyl-2,7-dimethyl octane (IV) reappeared following testosterone treatment into castrated males. Our earlier bioassay revealed that this compound was involved in attracting females. The present study concluded that this compound was a male specific volatile cue that acted as a releaser pheromone and its production was under the control of androgen.
Pattern of volatile compounds in dominant and subordinate male mouse urine
Journal of Chemical Ecology, 1989
The urinary volatiles from dominant and subordinate male mice were chromatographically compared, both immediately and seven days after dominant-subordinate relationships between pairs were formed. Statistical comparison of the peak areas of volatile constituents present in male urine revealed that 16 urinary compounds exhibited substantial concentration differences depending upon social status of the animals. Urinary dihydrofurans, ketones, and acetates exhibited a significant, long-term (seven-day) decrease in the urine of subordinates when compared to control and dominant males. Two sesquiterpenic compounds, c~-and/~-farnesene, were elevated only in the dominant urine one week after dominance was established. 2-(see-Butyl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole was found in higher concentration in bladder or excreted urine of dominant males when compared to subordinates. Of the 16 compounds subjected to statistical analysis, four exhibited hormonal dependency: c~-and ~-farnesene, dehydro-exo-brevicomin, and 2-(sec-butyl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole. Neither dehydro-exo-brevicomin nor 2-(see-butyl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole was present in the urine of immature and castrated males. Testosterone treatment restores their presence in male urine. Also, c~-and r were absent in the urine of immature males and significantly reduced in the urine of castrated males. The absence of c~-and/3-farnesene in bladder urine suggests that one of the sex-accessory glands may be the site of their origin.
Sex- and Gonad-Affecting Scent Compounds and 3 Male Pheromones in the Rat
Chemical Senses, 2008
This study was aimed at identifying sex pheromones of the rat (Rattus norvegicus). We characterized the volatiles and semivolatiles of rat preputial gland and voided urine by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and quantified them by their GC areas (abundances) and percentage of GC areas (relative abundances). Although all the compounds other than 4-heptanone and phenol detected were shared by males and females, the quantities for some of these sex-common compounds exhibited sexual dimorphism and decreased with gonadectomy. Thus, these compounds might be sex pheromones. Among them, squalene from preputial glands and 2-heptanone and 4-ethyl phenol from urine were 3 major compounds. They were richer in males and could be suppressed by castration. Adding any of the 3 compounds (at a concentration higher than its physiological level in male urine) to castrated male urine (CMU) increased the attractiveness of CMU to sex-naive females. Adding the 3 together (at the levels in normal male urine) to CMU significantly increased the attractiveness of CMU to females. However, such combination did not fully restore females' preference for urine from intact males, suggesting that some other trace compounds such as 4-heptanone and phenol might also play some roles in sex attractiveness. Thus, squalene, 2-heptanone, and 4-ethyl phenol were indeed male pheromone molecules in rats. Our study also indicates that E,E-b-farnesene and E-a-farnesene, both richer in females than males, might be putative female pheromones.
Comparison of Urinary Scents of Two Related Mouse Species, Mus spicilegus and Mus domesticus
Journal of Chemical Ecology, 2009
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 sulfurcontaining compounds. Castration of M. spicilegus males eliminated several substances, including δ-hexalactone and γ-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.
Chemical Senses, 2010
Mice recognize other mice by identifying chemicals that confer a molecular signature to urinary marks. Such molecules may be involved in species recognition, and previous behavioral studies have related divergence of sexual preference between 2 subspecies of the house mouse (Mus musculus musculus and Mus musculus domesticus) to urinary odors. To characterize the differences between odors of males of the 2 subspecies and their first-generation offspring, the urinary volatile molecules were examined via gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Seven molecules were present in the samples from mice of at least one group. Their quantity varied among groups: M. m. domesticus showed a quantitatively richer panel of odorants in their urine when compared with M. m. musculus. The hybrids showed a more complex picture that was not directly related to one or the other parental subspecies. These quantitative differences may contribute to the specificity of the odorant bouquet of the 2 subspecies.
Synthetic Pheromones That Promote Inter-Male Aggression in Mice
Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences, 1985
Two volatile constituents of male mouse urine, dehydro-exo-brevicomin and 2-(sec-butyl)-dihydrothiazole, have been found active in bioassays of inter-male aggressive behavior. The two synthetic compounds act synergistically when added to castrated male urine but not when added to water, and they provoke fighting that is quantitatively and qualitatively comparable to that elicited by intact male urine.
Airborne molecules released from male mouse urine affect female exploratory behavior
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 2014
Male mouse urine delivers a wide range of molecules which may be involved in intraspecific chemical communication. These include the Major Urinary Proteins (MUP) which bind volatile odorant molecules and slowly release them from urine marks. The aim of this work is to evaluate the role of volatile molecules in eliciting exploratory behavior, in comparison to MUP. Female mice were exposed to male mouse urine, either diluted or not, or to MUP stripped of ligands. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry of the stimuli were performed to verify the presence and identify the odorant molecules in urine and to assess the absence of MUP ligands. The exploratory behavior of adult female mice was analyzed in a cage, in the presence of two stimuli on opposite sides, but preventing direct contact with them. Four stimuli were presented in pairs: adult male mouse urine, MUP stripped of ligands, urine diluted 100 times and water as control. The results show that adult female mice explore urine, as little as 150 nl, but do not explore MUP stripped of ligands. These data show that male urine airborne molecules, effective at very low doses, mediate initial stimulus exploration by female mice.
Quantitative chromatographic profiling of odours associated with dominance in male laboratory mice
Aggressive Behavior, 1988
Triads of male NMRI mice were housed together and dominance hierarchies allowed to form. At age 19 weeks the mice were ranked on the basis of wins in spontaneous aggressive encounters, and whole-body volatiles were sampled by the dynamic solvent effect and quantitatively analysed by capillary gas chromatography. At age 26 weeks the mice were again ranked on the basis of wins in aggressive encounters, number of aggressive encounters initiated, and scent marking patterns, and whole-body volatiles were sampled and analysed. Chromatographic odour profde ranks agreed perfectly with aggressive initiator ranks and poorly with encounter winner ranks. Eight components of the whole-body odour were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; two of these are known semiochemicals. The results demonstrate that murine semiochemicals are accessible to quantitative analysis at the level of the individual.