Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 17 October 1969:
Vol. 166. no. 3903, pp. 398 - 399
DOI: 10.1126/science.166.3903.398
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Sweat in Schizophrenic Patients: Identification of the Odorous Substance

Kathleen Smith 1, Geoffrey F. Thompson 1, and Harry D. Koster 1

1 Malcolm Bliss Mental Health Center and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63104

The substance causing the peculiar odor in sweat of schizophrenic patients has been isolated and identified as trans-3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid by gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The natural and the synthetic compounds were cleaves across the double bond to give 2-pentanone and oxalic acid, thereby confirming the structure.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Individual Comparisons of the Levels of (E)-3-Methyl-2-Hexenoic Acid, an Axillary Odor-Related Compound, in Japanese.
T. Akutsu, K. Sekiguchi, T. Ohmori, and K. Sakurada (2006)
Chem Senses 31, 557-563
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A Specific Bacterial Aminoacylase Cleaves Odorant Precursors Secreted in the Human Axilla.
A. Natsch, H. Gfeller, P. Gygax, J. Schmid, and G. Acuna (2003)
J. Biol. Chem. 278, 5718-5727
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Possible Etiology of Schizophrenia: Progressive Damage to the Noradrenergic Reward System by 6-Hydroxydopamine.
L. Stein and C. D. Wise (1971)
Science 171, 1032-1036
   Abstract »    PDF »
Odor of Sanity.
A.B. (1970)
JAMA 212, 472-473
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)