Volatile Sulfur Compounds Responsible for a Fetid Odor of the Hypobranchial Gland of Muricid Gastropods Reishia (Thais) clavigera and R. (T.) bronni

Abstract

The hypobranchial gland of marine gastropods belonging to the family Muricidae is known to give off a fetid odor. In order to elucidate the compounds responsible for the fetid odor, the volatiles from two muricid gastropods, Reishia (Thais) clavigera and R. (T.) bronni, were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The GC patterns of volatiles were almost the same regardless of species and tissues. Based on the retention time in FID- and FPD-GC, acetone and four sulfur compounds (hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulfide, and dimethyl disulfide) were identified. The presence of acetone, methyl mercaptan, and dimethyl disulfide was also confirmed by GC-MS. Among the volatile compounds detected, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl disulfide, which were remarkably high in quantity, were judged to be responsible for the fetid odor. In two species the contents of methyl mercaptan and dimethyl disulfide were much higher in the hypobranchial gland than in the viscera and muscle. Moreover, the contents of both sulfur compounds in live specimens were comparable to those in stored ones; this result indicated that the volatile sulfur compounds were not produced during storage. © 1982, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.