Mature male African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants periodically exhibit a rut-like state called �musth� which is characterized by elevated serum testosterone, swollen and draining temporal glands, urine dribbling, lowered appetite, increased aggression, and enhanced reproductive success. A series of alkan-2-ones is more abundant in secretions and excretions from musth males than in those from non-musth males. Using automated solid phase dynamic extraction (SPDE) coupled with GC-MS, we have analyzed urine from two immature male African elephants over several years to gain new insights into the biological timing of the appearance of these alkan-2-ones, the analogous alkan-2-ols, and other characteristic musth chemical signals. We have discovered that chemical changes in the urine that mimic those in musth are evident before any external and traditional markers of musth are observed. We are correlating the abundance of these compounds with serum testosterone levels.

Urinary chemical signals of musth in immature male African elephants

245th National Meeting (2013)

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