3-Ethyl-2,7-dimethyl octane, a testosterone dependent unique urinary sex pheromone in male mouse (Mus musculus)

Abstract

A previous investigation revealed that urine from normal male mice contained five unique volatile constituents; namely: 3-cyclohexene-1-methanol (I); 3-amino triazole (II); 4-ethyl phenol (III); 3-ethyl-2,7-dimethyl octane (IV); 1-iodoundecane (V). The present study was designed to find out whether the production of these male specific urinary compounds was androgen-dependent. Urine of castrated and castrated plus testosterone-treated male mice was analyzed using gas chromatography linked mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Even though castrated male urine contained 10 detectable compounds, the five male specific compounds present in intact males were absent in castrated male mice urine. Only 3-ethyl-2,7-dimethyl octane (IV) reappeared following testosterone treatment into castrated males. Our earlier bioassay revealed that this compound was involved in attracting females. The present study concluded that this compound was a male specific volatile cue that acted as a releaser pheromone and its production was under the control of androgen.