title: Rat cheek gland compounds: behavioural response to identified compounds.
abstract: Cheek gland secretions from sexually mature and reproductively active male and female laboratory rats (Wister strain), Rattus norvegicus albinus were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Alkanes, aliphatic acids esters and alcohols were identified in the secretions. Cheek gland preparation from males contained predominantly three compounds, viz. di-n-octyl phthalate (I); 1,2-benzene diacarboxylic acid butyl (2-ethyl hexyl) ester (II); and 1,2 benzene dicarboxylic acid (2-methylpropyl) ester (III) whereas in the cheek gland of females two compounds, viz, 1,2-benzene dicarboxylic acid (2-methylpropyl) ester (I); and 2,6,10 dedecatrien-1-ol, 3,7,11-trimethyl-(Z, E) (II) were the major fractions. The identified compounds were tested for odour preferences. Compounds II and III of males and I and II of females attracted both male and female conspecifics. By contrast, compound I from males only attracted females. The level of attraction also varied from compound to compound. The results suggest that cheek gland secretions have pheromonal functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India. skanmbt2000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kannan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Archunan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002610:Cheek / Q000502:physiology*; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008297:Male; D010675:Pheromones / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones