Adrenal-mediated endogenous metabolites inhibit puberty in female mice.
While assessing a potential role of adrenal glands in the production of the hitherto unidentified puberty-delaying pheromone of female mice, the urinary volatile profiles of normal and adrenalectomized animals were quantitatively compared. Six components, whose concentrations were depressed after adrenalectomy, were identified: 2-heptanone, trans-5-hepten-2-one, trans-4-hepten-2-one, n-pentyl acetate, cis-2-penten-1-yl acetate, and 2,5-dimethylpyrazine. When these laboratory-synthesized chemicals were added (in their natural concentrations) to either previously inactive urine from adrenalectomized females or plain water, the biological activity was fully restored.
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007659:Ketones / Q000652:urine; D051379:Mice; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D000439:Pentanols / Q000652:urine; D010675:Pheromones / Q000502:physiology / Q000652:urine; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000652:urine; D012741:Sexual Maturation
D007659:Ketones; D000439:Pentanols; D010675:Pheromones; D011719:Pyrazines; C005716:amyl acetate