Chemical Characterization of Compounds Released by Marine Mammals.
Abstract
Excretions, secretions and glandular extracts from marine mammals were analyzed chemically by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify chemical constituents which may be involved in marine mammal chemoreception. The results of acidic, neutral and basic functions of urine, feces, prostate gland extract and semen from male dolphins, Tursiops truncatus; of a urine sample from a female dolphin, Tursiops truncatus; and of one fecal sample from a male California sea lion, Zalophus californianus, are presented. The acidic and neutral fractions of a perianal gland secretion and fecal sample from the same male dolphin; and a fecal sample from a female Tursoips truncatus also are presented. Various acids, esters, sugars, alcohols, steroids and nitrogen-containing compounds were in the samples. Taste and/or toxicity data were available for 25 compounds detected in the samples. Some sugars, some alcohols and glycine are not expected to be toxic. Several compounds are noted as suitable stimuli for chemoreception experiments. These are lactic, phosphoric and succinic acids; glycine; urea; mannose; glycerol; inositol; arabitol; erythritol; mannitol; sorbitol;xylitol; erythrose; galactose; glucose; lactose; xylose; indole and skatole.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA163216
Entities
People
- M. G. Ceruti