Urinary volatile constituents of the house mouse,Mus musculus, and their endocrine dependency

Abstract
Mouse urine contains a great number of volatile constituents that may be used in chemical communication. Some of these volatiles, identified in this study by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, appear unique to the mouse. Certain urinary volatiles exhibit strong dependence on the sex and endocrine status of the animals, as shown through castration, treatment with an antiandrogen, and hormone supplementation.