Abstract
An investigation of the anal gland volatiles of the male wild rabbitOryctolagus cuniculus has been made in which the heart rate of adult male rabbits, positioned to sniff the effluent from a gas chromatographie capillary column, has been employed as an indicator for the presence of constituents of likely behavioral significance. The examination by this means of the headspace volatiles of homogenized anal glands using gas chromatography and gas chromatography—mass spectrometry has implicated a number of saturated and monounsaturated normal and methyl-branched aldehydes in the C9–C12 range.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersson, G., Andersson, K., Brundin, A., andRappe, G. 1975. Volatile compounds from the tarsal scent gland of reindeer(Rangifer tarandus). J. Chem. Ecol. 1:275–281.
Birch, A.J. 1950. The reduction of organic compounds by metal-ammonia solutions.Q. Rev., Chem. Soc. 4:69–92.
Brooks, L.A., andSnyder, H.R. 1955. 4-Penten-1-ol.Org. Synth. 2:698.
Corey, E.J., andSuggs, J.W. 1975. Pyridinium chlorochromate. An efficient reagent for oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols to carbonyl compounds.Tetrahedron Lett. 31:2647–2650.
Crombie, L., Harper, S.H., Newman, F.C., Thompson, D., and (in part)Smith, R.J.D. 1956. Experiments on the synthesis of the pyrethrins. X.J. Chem. Soc. 1956:126–135.
Englinton, G., Jones, E.R., andWhiting, M.S. 1952. Researches on acetylenic compounds. Part 38.J. Chem. Soc. 1952:2871–2881.
Frisch, O. 1965. Versuche über die Ãnderungen der Herzfrequenz von Tieren bei psychischen Erregung.Z. Tierpsychol. 22:104–118.
Goodrich, B.S., andMykytowycz, R. 1972. Individual and sex differences in the chemical composition of pheromone-like substances from the skin glands of the rabbit,Orycto-lagus cuniculus. J. Mammal. 53:540–548.
Griffin, D.R. 1976. The Question of Animal Awareness. Evolutionary Continuity of Mental Experience. Rockefeller University Press, New York.
Hesterman, E.R., Goodrich, B.S., andMykytowycz, R. 1976. Behavioral and cardiac responses of the rabbitOryctolagus cuniculus to chemical fractions from anal gland.J. Chem. Ecol. 2:25–37.
Jones, E.R., Englinton, G., andWhiting, M.C. 1963. 4-Pentyn-1-ol.Org. Synth. 4:755–756.
Lacey, U.I., andLacey, Beatrice, C. 1970. Some autonomic-central nervous system interrelationships, pp. 205–227,in P. Black (ed.). Physiological Correlates of Emotion. Academic Press, New York.
Lindlar, H. 1952. A new catalyst for selective hydrogenations.Helv. Chim. Acta. 35:446.
Magoon, E.F., andSlough, L.H. 1967. Reduction of acetylenes and conjugated dioleflns by lithium aluminium hydride.Tetrahedron 23:4509–4515.
Murray, K.E. 1977. The concentration of headspace, airborne and aqueous volatiles on Chromosorb 105 for examination by gas chromatography and gas chromatographymass spectrometry.J. Chromatogr. 135:49–61.
Murray, K.E., Shipton, J., andWhitfield, F.B. 1972. The chemistry of food flavour. 1. Volatile constituents of passionfruit,Passiflora edulis. Aust. J. Chem. 25:1921–1933.
Mykytowycz, R. 1968. Territorial marking by rabbits.Sci. Am. 218:116–126.
Obrist, P.A. 1976. The cardiovascular-behavioural interaction as it appears today.Psychophysiology 13:95–107.
Paul, R., andNorman, H. 1943. Ethylenic alcohols.Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr. 10:484–485.
Preti, G., Muetterties, E.L., Furman, J.M., Kennelly, J.J., andJohns, B.E. 1976. Volatile constituents of dog(Canis familiaris) and coyote(Canis latrans) anal sacs.J. Chem. Ecol. 2:177–186.
Ratcliffe, R.R., andRodehorst, R. 1970. Improved procedure for oxidations with the chromium trioxide-pyridine complex.J. Org. Chem. 35:4000–4002.
Stanley, G., andKennett, B.H. 1973. Reaction gas chromatography of microgram and sub-microgram samples using sealed glass capillaries.J. Chromatogr. 75:304–307.
Walter, G.F., andPorges, S.W. 1976. Heart rate and respiratory responses as a function of task difficulty: The use of discriminant analysis in the selection of psychologically sensitive physiological responses.Psychophysiology 13:563–571.
Wenzel, B.M., andSieck, M.H. 1972. Olfactory perception and bulbar electrical activity in several avian species.Physiol. Behav. 9:287–293.
Wharthen, D., andJacobsen, M. 1968. Insect sex attractants. X. s-Dodecen-1-ol acetates, analogs of the cabbage looper sex attractant.J. Med. Chem. 11:373–374.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Goodrich, B.S., Hesterman, E.R., Murray, K.E. et al. Identification of behaviorally significant volatile compounds in the anal gland of the rabbit,Oryctolagus cuniculus . J Chem Ecol 4, 581–594 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988922
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00988922