Urinary volatile profiles of the deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) pertaining to gender and age

Biological aspects of chemical communication in the deermouse have been ext ensively documented in the past. To provide a broad characterization of the urinary volatile compounds (potential chemosignals), the urine samples fro m adult and young animals of both sexes, as well as from castrated animals, were examined. The volatiles were extracted through a dynamic headspace te chnique and analyzed by combined capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrom etry. The major constituents have been identified as various ketones, aldeh ydes, pyrazines, pyridines, quinolines, a thiazole, an amide, and a nitrile . While no chromatographic peaks were found to be unique to gender or age, quantitative analyses revealed that numerous compounds exhibited significan t variations among the different groups. Their endocrine dependencies sugge st a potential chemosignaling function.