We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Profiles of Volatiles in Male Rat Urine: The Effect of Puberty on the Female Attraction.
- Authors
Osada, Kazumi; Kashiwayanagi, Makoto; Izumi, Hiroshi
- Abstract
Rat urine contains many volatile constituents that may be used for chemical communication. The levels of certain urinary volatiles are strongly dependent on the sex and endocrine status (e.g., puberty). We performed chemical and behavioral studies to identify the volatiles in adult male rat urine that attract mature females. Our results demonstrated that adult male rats have higher levels of 2-heptanone (2-HP), 4-methylphenol (4-MP), and 4-ethylphenol (4-EP) than prepubescent male rats; furthermore, female rats are more attracted to the odor of adult male rat urine than that of prepubescent males. When prepubescent rat urine was supplemented with 2-HP, 4-MP, and 4-EP to the levels found in adult male urine, the attractiveness of the urine to females was markedly enhanced. Our results suggested that this attraction is due to an increased level of chemosignaling.
- Publication
Chemical Senses, 2009, Vol 34, Issue 8, p713
- ISSN
0379-864X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/chemse/bjp058