Lizard Epidermal Gland Secretions. II. Chemical Characterization of the Generation Gland Secretion of the Sungazer, Cordylus giganteus

• Published in: Journal of natural products (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 74; no. 6; pp. 1364 - 1369
• Main Authors: Louw, Stefan, Burger, Ben V, Le Roux, Maritha, Van Wyk, Johannes H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Northbrook, IL American Chemical Society and American Society of Pharmacognosy 24.06.2011; American Society of Pharmacognosy
• Subjects: Amphibia. Reptilia; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Exocrine Glands - secretion; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Lizards - metabolism; Male; Pheromones - secretion; Trimethylsilyl Compounds - analysis; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Steroid; Chemical analysis; Nitrile; Alcohol; Amides; Male; Flame ionization detector; Ester; Alkene; Sauria; Carboxylic acid; Chemical composition; Hydrocarbon; Aliphatic compound; Secretion; Epidermis; Volatile organic compound; Histology; Aldehyde; Ketone; Gas chromatography; Vertebrata; Reptilia; Ethylenic compound; Semiochemicals
• ISSN: 0163-3864; 1520-6025
• DOI: 10.1021/np1008366

In lizards, the epidermal glands of the femoral and precloacal regions are involved in the production of semiochemicals. In addition to its femoral glands, the giant girdled lizard, or sungazer, Cordylus giganteus, which is endemic to South Africa, has generation glands as an additional potential source of semiochemicals. These epidermal glands are described as glandular scales that overlay the femoral glands and are included in the normal epidermal profile located in the femoral (thigh) and anterior antebrachial (fore-leg) regions of the male sungazer. GC-MS analysis of the generation gland secretions and the trimethylsilyl derivatives of some of the steroidal constituents was employed to identify 59 constituents, including alkenes, carboxylic acids, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, esters, amides, nitriles, and steroids. The quantitative differences of the volatile constituents of the fore- and hind-leg generation glands were compared between individuals. This is the first report on the chemical composition of generation glandular material of lizards.