Flank gland-secreted putative chemosignals pertaining to photoperiod,endocrine states,and sociosexual behavior in golden hamsters

摘要

Behavioral studies have shown that flank glands are involved in chemical communication in golden hamstersMesocricetus auratus but little chemical analysis has been conducted on volatiles arising from these glands. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we detected compounds from the flank glands of males, only eight of which were also produced infemales. Based on these chemical data we performed a number of further experiments. By manipulating light we found that malesexposed to short-photoperiods developed smaller flank glands than those exposed to long-photoperiods. Six flank gland volatilesreduced in relative abundance, which possibly coded for reproductive status of males of this seasonally breeding hamster species.Through dyadic encounters, we were able to induce the formation of dominant-subordinate relationships and show that two glandularcompounds became high in relative abundance and may function as dominance pheromones. Castration eliminated allmale-specific compounds resulting from flank glands, but bilateral ovariectomies only affected one compound in females. Oncethese ovariectomized females were treated with testosterone, their glandular compounds resembled those of males, suggestingthese compounds are under the main control of androgen. Two female putative pheromones, tetradecanoic acid and hexadecanoicacid, were used in binary choice tests and were both found to attract males over females. Applying a solution of these pheromonecompounds to adult males also suppressed their agonistic