title: Analysis of odor compounds in feces of mice that were exposed to various stresses during breeding.
abstract: In order to provide healthy experimental animals, it is important to find and remove animals that have been accidentally exposed to various stresses during breeding. This study focuses mouse health-care management. Here we used human olfaction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to assess odor intensity and determine the concentrations of odor components. The feces were collected from mice that were exposed to 4 different stresses (no bedding chips, shaking, fasting, and movement restriction). These stresses caused a change in odor intensity as assessed by 6 panelists. Seventeen components were identified as dominant components in the odor that was emitted from feces. The concentration of each compound was converted to relative values versus its odor threshold levels in order to select ones effective for the quality of the odor. As a result, 12 selected components were found to be a useful set for the recognition of mice bred under different stress conditions. The present results may provide useful information for the development of standard fecal odor materials that may be used for the training of mouse care personnel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakuma
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasaka
authors.forename: Hiroto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishijima
authors.forename: Hisakage
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Funabashi
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: Mikako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000079:Acetaldehyde / Q000032:analysis; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000032:analysis*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017750:Animal Technicians; D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008744:Methylamines / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D009812:Odorants; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D008744:Methylamines; D013440:Sulfides; D000079:Acetaldehyde; C023336:trimethylamine