Hendriks W H, Tarttelin M F, Moughan P J
Department of Animal Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Physiol Behav. 1995 Sep;58(3):467-9. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(95)00084-v.
The purpose of this study was to determine the 24 h urinary excretion of a sulphur containing amino acid called felinine in entire and castrated cats of both sexes. Entire male cats excreted (mean +/- SEM) 122 +/- 23.6 mmol of felinine per kg bodyweight per day with castrated males, entire females and spayed females excreting 41 +/- 8.4, 36 +/- 7.3 and 20 +/- 3.8 mmol, respectively. There was an overall significant difference between groups in the amounts of felinine excreted in 24 h [F(3, 24) = 11.8, p < 0.0001] with there being significant differences between entire males and castrated males (p < 0.001) and castrated males and spayed females (p < 0.05). There was no difference in excretion between entire and spayed females. Urine volumes were not significantly different for the 24 h period. The differences in excretion levels were caused by different concentrations of felinine in the urine with entire male cats excreting (mean +/- SEM) 2.0 +/- 0.55 g of felinine per litre of urine. The data obtained in the present study support the concept that felinine, which has been found in Felidae species only, may be testosterone dependent. Felinine may be involved in territorial marking.
本研究的目的是测定完整和阉割的雌雄猫体内一种名为猫氨酸的含硫氨基酸的24小时尿排泄量。完整雄猫每天每千克体重排泄（均值±标准误）122±23.6毫摩尔猫氨酸，阉割雄猫、完整雌猫和绝育雌猫的排泄量分别为41±8.4、36±7.3和20±3.8毫摩尔。24小时内各实验组排泄的猫氨酸量总体上有显著差异[F(3, 24) = 11.8, p < 0.0001]，完整雄猫与阉割雄猫之间（p < 0.001）以及阉割雄猫与绝育雌猫之间（p < 0.05）存在显著差异。完整雌猫和绝育雌猫的排泄量没有差异。24小时内尿量无显著差异。排泄水平的差异是由尿中猫氨酸浓度不同所致，完整雄猫每升尿排泄（均值±标准误）2.0±0.55克猫氨酸。本研究获得的数据支持这样的概念，即仅在猫科动物中发现的猫氨酸可能依赖于睾酮。猫氨酸可能参与领地标记。
