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Journal of chemical ecology2012; 38(7); 811-813; doi: 10.1007/s10886-012-0138-2

p-Cresol: a sex pheromone component identified from the estrous urine of mares.

Abstract: Previously it was shown that m- and p-cresols in the urine of mares exhibits a temporally reproducible pattern that is dependent on ovarian activity and, thus, provides information about the timing of ovulation. New behavioral data demonstrate 1) that stallions spend significantly more time sniffing p-cresol as compared to o-, and m-cresols, and, 2) that the extent of stallions' erections differ significantly in response to different types of samples. The lowest erection level was recorded for the pure-water control, a moderate erection level was elicited by the urine of diestrous mares, and the highest erection level was elicited by urine of a diestrous mare containing synthetic p-cresol at a quantity equivalent to half of the amount of p-cresol found in the urine of estrous mares. Consequently, p-cresol is at least one of the components of a horse sex pheromone.
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Publication Date: 2012-05-18 PubMed ID: 22592336DOI: 10.1007/s10886-012-0138-2Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article investigates the role of p-Cresol, found in the urine of mares, as a sex pheromone in horses. The study finds that p-Cresol signals the timing of ovulation and significantly attracts stallion attention and arousal, identifying it as a component of horse sex pheromones.

Background

  • This research builds on preceding studies showing that m- and p-cresols in mare urine exhibit a consistent pattern linked to ovarian activity, supplying information about ovulation timing.
  • The study aims to further understand the behavioral impacts of these elements, particularly p-Cresol, on stallions, male horses.

Behavioral Observations

  • The research found that stallions spend significantly more time sniffing p-cresol compared to other cresols (o-, and m-), suggesting a unique attraction to p-cresol.
  • The degree of stallions’ erections varies significantly in response to different samples indicating different arousal levels aligned with the odor exposure.

Experimental Data

  • The research notes the lowest erection level for the pure-water control, verifying that an environmental factor (in this case, a specific scent) stimulates stallion arousal rather than mere presence or proximity of mares.
  • Moderate erection level was elicited by diestrous mares’ urine (the phase of the ovarian cycle where female horses are not ready to mate).
  • The highest arousal was observed in response to urine from a diestrous mare laced with synthetic p-cresol, half the quantity found in estrous mares’ urine (the phase of the ovarian cycle where female horses are ready to mate).

Conclusion

  • The study conclusively suggests p-Cresol to be at least one of the components of a horse sex pheromone, indicating the crucial role it plays in horse mating behavior.
  • The unique behavioral response from the stallions towards p-cresol emphasizes the importance of studying and understanding chemical communications between animals, especially in the arena of reproduction.

Cite This Article

APA
Būda V, Mozūraitis R, Kutra J, Borg-Karlson AK. (2012). p-Cresol: a sex pheromone component identified from the estrous urine of mares. J Chem Ecol, 38(7), 811-813. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-012-0138-2

Publication

Journal of chemical ecology
ISSN: 1573-1561
NlmUniqueID: 7505563
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 38
Issue: 7
Pages: 811-813

Researcher Affiliations

Būda, Vincas
  • Centre for Ecology and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Mozūraitis, Raimondas
    Kutra, Jonas
      Borg-Karlson, Anna-Karin

        MeSH Terms

        • Animal Communication
        • Animals
        • Cresols / analysis
        • Female
        • Horses / urine
        • Male
        • Sex Attractants / chemistry
        • Sexual Behavior, Animal

        References

        This article includes 3 references
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        Citations

        This article has been cited 8 times.
        1. Woszczyło M, Jezierski T, Szumny A, Niżański W, Dzięcioł M. The Role of Urine in Semiochemical Communication between Females and Males of Domestic Dog (Canis familiaris) during Estrus. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 13;10(11).
          doi: 10.3390/ani10112112pubmed: 33203031google scholar: lookup
        2. Archunan G. Reproductive enhancement in buffalo: looking at urinary pheromones and hormones. Iran J Vet Res 2020 Summer;21(3):163-171.
          pubmed: 33178293
        3. Poldy J. Volatile Cues Influence Host-Choice in Arthropod Pests. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 28;10(11).
          doi: 10.3390/ani10111984pubmed: 33126768google scholar: lookup
        4. Kücklich M, Weiß BM, Birkemeyer C, Einspanier A, Widdig A. Chemical cues of female fertility states in a non-human primate. Sci Rep 2019 Sep 23;9(1):13716.
          doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-50063-wpubmed: 31548568google scholar: lookup
        5. Soso SB, Koziel JA. Characterizing the scent and chemical composition of Panthera leo marking fluid using solid-phase microextraction and multidimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry. Sci Rep 2017 Jul 11;7(1):5137.
          doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-04973-2pubmed: 28698649google scholar: lookup
        6. Marneweck C, Jürgens A, Shrader AM. Dung odours signal sex, age, territorial and oestrous state in white rhinos. Proc Biol Sci 2017 Jan 11;284(1846).
          doi: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2376pubmed: 28077775google scholar: lookup
        7. Apps PJ. Are mammal olfactory signals hiding right under our noses?. Naturwissenschaften 2013 Jun;100(6):487-506.
          doi: 10.1007/s00114-013-1054-1pubmed: 23674106google scholar: lookup
        8. Zhang Y, Xu X, Fan X, Wu Y, Zhang X, Wu Y, Li X, Zou Q. Unraveling p-Cresol: from biosynthesis to biological and biochemical activities. Front Pharmacol 2025;16:1665421.
          doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1665421pubmed: 41059204google scholar: lookup
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