Macdonald Edith A, Fernandez-Duque Eduardo, Evans Sian, Hagey Lee R
Wellington Zoo, Newton, Wellington, New Zealand.
Am J Primatol. 2008 Jan;70(1):12-8. doi: 10.1002/ajp.20450.
Numerous behavioral studies have shown that animals use olfactory cues as inbreeding avoidance or kin avoidance mechanisms, implying that scent is unique to families. However, few studies have analyzed the chemical profile of a scent and ascertained the messages that are conveyed in scent secretions. Owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae) are socially monogamous primates that utilize scent when interacting with foreign conspecifics. This suggests there is a difference in the chemical composition of scent marks. We chemically analyzed sub-caudal gland samples from three families of captive owl monkeys (Aotus nancymaae). Samples were analyzed by capillary GC-MS and relative retention time and fragment pattern was compared with known standards. Gland samples were high in large plant-based shikikate metabolites and fatty ketones; alcohols, acids, and acetates were virtually absent. Gender, age, and family could be reliably classified using discriminant analysis (92.9, 100, and 100%, respectively). Female scent profiles were greater in concentration of aromatic plant metabolites, possibly the result of a different diet or physiological differences in female metabolism as compared to male. Offspring of adult age still living in their natal group showed a less complex chemical profile than their parents. Finally, each family had its own unique and complex chemical profile. The presence of family scent may play a role in mediating social interactions.
众多行为研究表明，动物利用嗅觉线索作为近亲繁殖回避或亲属回避机制，这意味着气味对于各个家族而言是独特的。然而，很少有研究分析气味的化学特征并确定气味分泌物中所传达的信息。夜猴（Aotus nancymaae）是社会性一夫一妻制的灵长类动物，在与外来同种个体互动时会利用气味。这表明气味标记的化学成分存在差异。我们对来自三个圈养夜猴（Aotus nancymaae）家族的尾下腺样本进行了化学分析。样本通过毛细管气相色谱 - 质谱联用仪进行分析，并将相对保留时间和碎片模式与已知标准进行比较。腺体样本中富含大量基于植物的莽草酸代谢物和脂肪酮；几乎不存在醇类、酸类和乙酸酯类。使用判别分析能够可靠地对性别、年龄和家族进行分类（分别为92.9%、100%和100%）。雌性的气味特征中芳香植物代谢物的浓度更高，这可能是由于与雄性相比饮食不同或雌性代谢存在生理差异所致。仍生活在其出生群体中的成年后代的化学特征比其父母的要简单。最后，每个家族都有其独特而复杂的化学特征。家族气味的存在可能在调节社会互动中发挥作用。
