Analysis of Volatile Mouse Pheromones by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

High-precision quantitative profiling of volatile organic constituents in rodent physiological fluids and glandular secretions is needed to relate olfactory signals to physiology and behavior. Whereas capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis has become the most widely applied in such investigations, the extraction and preconcentration of volatile organics is arguably the most critical step in the overall analytical task. In this chapter, we describe technical details of two main sample extraction procedures used in our laboratory: dynamic headspace trapping, and stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE). They have been demonstrated here for the chromatographic analysis of mouse urine, serum, saliva, and preputial gland specimens.