Studies on some unusual lipids of the preputial glands of rats and mice and their hormonal influence.

Major neutral lipid fractions of the preputial glands of mice have been identified by analytical and preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas liquid chromatography (GLC) as wax esters, neutral plasmalogen, alkyl diglyceride, triglyceride and cholesterol. An unusual lipid fraction between wax esters and neutral plasmalogens was identified as alkyl acetate, which has been reported earlier to function as sex attractant. The lipid pattern of the preputial glands of rats in both sexes was similarly studied. Three unknown bands of lipids were identified by TLC between wax ester and alk-1-enyl diglycerides, which on further analysis by GLC and infrared spectroscopy gave preliminary indication of aliphatic diester waxes. Administration of androgen stimulated the biosynthesis of these substances.