Urinary phenols, Volatile

Behavioral observations of male white-tailed deer indicate that urine could play a role in olfactory communication in this animal [131]. To extend the knowledge of the urinary volatiles of the white-tailed deer and to investigate the possibility that vaginal mucus could also carry semiochemical information, Jemiolo et al. [132] studied the qualitative and concentration changes in the profiles of the volatiles present in these excretions. Forty-four volatiles were found in the mucus and 63 in female urine. The volatiles common to both vaginal mucus and urine included alcohols, aldehydes, furans, ketones, alkanes, and alkenes. Aromatic hydrocarbons were found only in the mucus, whereas pyrans, amines, esters and phenols were found only in the urine. Both estrous mucus and estrous urine could be identified by the presence of specific compounds that were not present in mid-cycle samples. Numerous compounds exhibited dependency on ovarian hormones. 

M. J. Hill, A. J. Taylor, M. H. Thompson and R. Wait, Fecal steroids and urinary volatile phenols in four Scandinavian populations, Nutr. Cancer, 1982, 4(1), 67. 

A mammal may emit many volatile compounds. Humans, for instance, give off hundreds of volatiles, many of them chemically identified (Ellin etal., 1974). The volatiles include many classes of compound such as acids (gerbil), ketones, lactones, sulfides (golden hamster), phenolics (beaver, elephant), acetates (mouse), terpenes (elephant), butyrate esters (tamarins), among others. The human samples mentioned before contained hydrocarbons, unsaturated hydrocarbons, alcohols, acids, ketones, aldehydes, esters, nitriles, aromatics, heterocyclics, sulfur compounds, ethers, and halogenated hydrocarbons. Sulfur compounds are found in carnivores, such as foxes, coyotes, or mustelids. The major volatile compound in urine of female coyotes, Canis latrans, is methyl 3-methylhut-3-enyl sulfide, which accounts for at least 50% of all urinary volatiles (Schultz etal, 1988). 

The detection of urinary metabolites has also been used to detect occupational exposure or to confirm inhalation of volatile substances. Urinary metabolites such as phenol (benzene metaboEte), trichloroacetic acid (tetrachloroethylene), hippuric acid (toluene) and methylhippuric acid (xylene) have been detected and measured. Results are often... 

On the Methods for the Study on Digestion and Absorption. Part VII. Gas Chromatographic Rapid Microdetermination of Urinary Volatile Phenols... 

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