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Demonstration of 16‐Unsaturated C‐19 Steroids (‘Boar Pheromones’) in Tissues of the Male Camel ( Camelus dromedarius )
Author(s) -
Claus R.,
Kaufmann B.,
Dehnhard M.,
Spitzer V.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0531.1999.tb01403.x
Subject(s) - sex pheromone , boar , steroid , biology , medicine , andrology , endocrinology , anatomy , zoology , hormone , semen
Contents Investigations into the role of pheromones in reproductive behaviour have been mainly limited to the boar, with 16‐unsaturated C‐19 steroids playing a major role. Similarities in the mating behaviour of the camel and pig suggest that pheromones may also be important in the camel. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of 16‐unsaturated steroids in camel testes and other tissues. Samples of testicular tissue were obtained by castration from six male camels (9–15 years) and 16‐unsaturated steroid content was measured by gas–liquid chromatography (GLC). In addition, samples of the glandula occipitalis (‘poll gland’), g. parotis, g. submandibularis and the palatal flap (‘dulaa’) were obtained from a 10‐year‐old camel and also analysed for steroid content. Results were confirmed by GC‐MS (gas‐chromatography‐mass spectrometry) in selected testicular samples. 5α‐androst‐16‐en‐3‐one could be detected in all testicular specimen (range 0.05–1.28 μ g/g tissue) as well as in all the other tissues analysed, with highest concentrations in the glandula occipitalis. 5α‐androst‐16‐en‐3β‐ol was present in most tissues, whereas 5α‐androst‐16‐en‐3α‐ol was detectable at 0.75 μ g/g only in one testes which also had the highest level of 5α‐androst‐16‐en‐3‐one. The similarities of these findings to the porcine species suggest a role of 16‐unsaturated steroids as pheromones in the camel. Further experimental evidence however, is required to confirm these findings.