Volatile Compounds from the Forehead Region of Male White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Journal: Journal of Chemical Ecology
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
ISSN: 0098-0331 (Print) 1573-1561 (Online)
Issue: Volume 23, Number 3 / March, 1997
DOI: 10.1023/B:JOEC.0000006397.63647.5b
Pages 569-578
Subject Collection: Biomedical and Life Sciences
SpringerLink Date: Monday, November 01, 2004

J.W.Gassett, D.P.Wiesler, A.G.Baker, D.A.Osborn, K.V.Miller, R.L.Marchinton and M.Novotny




[/align]AbstractSecretions produced by sebaceous and apocrine glands of cervids may be important in identifying individuals, establishing dominance, and signaling sexual readiness. The secretions from these glands are transferred to the hair for both lubrication and scent communication via forehead rubbing. We collected hair samples from the forehead and back of 10 male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) of various ages and analyzed them with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to determine age-related differences. Fifty-seven compounds were identified, including alkanes, arenes, aldehydes, ketones, aliphatic alcohols, terpenes, terpene alcohols, and phenols. Although forehead apocrine glands of dominant deer become more active during the breeding season, we found that concentrations of eight compounds found on the forehead hair were higher in subordinate deer, while only one was higher in dominant deer. Subordinate deer may have higher concentrations of these compounds because they rub less frequently than dominant deer. Additionally, only five forehead hair volatiles differed in concentration from those taken from the back hair. This seems to indicate that an increase in forehead glandular activity may take place concurrently with an increase in general integumentary glandular activity. The variation in hair volatiles among individuals also may be indicative of an individual-specific odor that could aid in identification.


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Forehead hair- Odocoileus virginianus -pheromone-scent communication-semiochemical-volatiles-white-tailed deer
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Sebaceous vs. Sudoriferous?

Sweat (Sudoriferous) Glands (p. 158; Fig. 5.3)
1. Eccrine sweat glands, or merocrine sweat glands, produce true sweat, are the most numerous of the sweat glands, and are particularly abundant on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and forehead.
2. Apocrine sweat glands are confined to the axillary and anogenital areas and produce true sweat with the addition of fatty substances and proteins.
3. Ceruminous glands are modified sweat glands found lining the ear canal that secrete ear wax, or cerumen.
4. Mammary glands are modified sweat glands found in the breasts that secrete milk.

Sebaceous (Oil) Glands (p. 159; Fig. 5.3)
1. Sebaceous glands are simple alveolar glands found all over the body except the palms of the hands and soles of the feet that secrete sebum, an oily secretion.
2. The sebaceous glands function as holocrine glands, secreting their product into a hair follicle or to a pore on the surface of the skin.
3. Secretion by sebaceous glands is stimulated by hormones.