Separation of male goat pheromones responsible for stimulating ovulatory activity in ewes

摘要

Ether washings of hair clipped from the sebacious gland areas of sexually active mature male goats were fractionated into acid and non-acid components. Testing for pheromonal activity using anovular ewes showed that both acid and non-acid fractions were active but that the individual fatty acids, 4-ethyl octanoic acid and 4-methyl octanoic acid which possess intense goaty odour, did not stimulate the ewes to ovulate. The free fatty acid fraction was analysed by gas chromatography and combined gas chromatography - mass spectrometry and found to contain predominantly 4-ethyl branched fatty acids. Minor components tentatively identified included 2-ethyl, 4-butyl, or 6-ethyl branched structures.