Chemical Senses Advance Access originally published online on October 12, 2005
Chemical Senses 2005 30(9):727-737; doi:10.1093/chemse/bji065
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Putative Chemosignals of the Ferret (Mustela furo) Associated with Individual and Gender Recognition
1 Institute for Pheromone Research and Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA and 3 Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA 2 Present address: Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xibeisihuan 25, Beijing 100080, China
Correspondence to be sent to: Dr. Milos V. Novotny, Institute for Pheromone Research and Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. e-mail: novotny{at}indiana.edu
Quantitative stir bar sorptive extraction methods, both in the aqueous and headspace modes, followed by thermal desorption gas chromatography–mass spectrometry were used to investigate individual variations in the volatile components of male and female ferret (Mustela furo) urine. The urinary profiles were further compared with volatile profiles of anal gland secretions of breeding male and female ferrets. Thirty volatile compounds were quantified in male and female urine. Among them, 2-methylquinoline was unique to male urine. Four ketones (4-heptanone, 2-heptanone, o-aminoacetophenone, and a dimethoxyacetophenone) and several nitrogen compounds (e.g., 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, quinoline, 4-methylquinazoline) and low levels of three unidentified nonsulfur compounds were significantly more abundant in males than in females. Quantitative comparison of 30 volatile urinary compounds showed several statistically significant differences between the sexes and individuals of the same sex. These findings suggest that ferrets may use urine marking for sex and individual recognitions. Ten of the 26 compounds identified in anal gland secretions from females and males were also found in urine. However, most of the major compounds (thietanes, dithiolanes, and indole) in anal glands were not present in urine. This suggests that urine may convey specific signals that differ from those of anal glands. Additionally, 10 volatiles (two aldehydes, five ketones, benzothiazole, 2-methylquinoline, and 4-methylquinazoline), not previously identified, were found in ferret anal gland secretions. Among the new compounds, o-aminoacetophenone was found only in males, while only traces of this compound were found in females. Similar results were previously obtained in anal glands of three other Mustela species. These findings provide new information about the constituents of urine and volatile components of anal gland secretions in ferrets.
Key words: anal gland secretion, chemical signals, GC-MS, Mustela furo, stir bar sorptive extraction, urine
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J.-X. Zhang, L. Sun, J.-H. Zhang, and Z.-Y. Feng Sex- and Gonad-Affecting Scent Compounds and 3 Male Pheromones in the Rat Chem Senses, September 1, 2008; 33(7): 611 - 621. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.-X. Zhang, X.-P. Rao, L. Sun, C.-H. Zhao, and X.-W. Qin Putative Chemical Signals about Sex, Individuality, and Genetic Background in the Preputial Gland and Urine of the House Mouse (Mus musculus) Chem Senses, March 1, 2007; 32(3): 293 - 303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|