What does a rat secrete? - briefly
Rats produce saliva, urine, feces, and specialized secretions from scent glands (e.g., preputial and anal glands) that contain pheromones used for communication. These fluids also carry hormones and metabolic waste.
What does a rat secrete? - in detail
Rats produce a variety of bodily fluids that serve physiological, communicative, and defensive functions.
Saliva is rich in enzymes such as amylase and lysozyme, which initiate carbohydrate digestion and exert antibacterial activity. The glandular tissue also secretes mucins that lubricate the oral cavity and facilitate grooming.
Urine contains urea, creatinine, and electrolytes; male rats excrete high concentrations of proteinaceous compounds that act as pheromonal signals. These urinary markers convey information about reproductive status, dominance hierarchy, and individual identity.
Feces consist of undigested fiber, bacterial biomass, and bile pigments. In addition to waste elimination, fecal pellets carry scent cues that other rats detect through the vomeronasal system, influencing territorial marking and social interactions.
Pheromonal secretions are produced by the preputial, clitoral, and anal glands. The chemicals include volatile fatty acids, steroids, and proteinaceous binding agents. They are deposited on the fur and substrate, mediating mating behavior and aggression modulation.
Tear fluid, generated by lacrimal glands, contains lysozyme and lactoferrin, providing antimicrobial protection for the ocular surface.
Sweat is limited to eccrine glands on the foot pads. The fluid is primarily water with trace electrolytes, aiding thermoregulation during intense activity.
Mammary glands secrete milk containing casein, whey proteins, lactose, and immunoglobulins, supporting offspring nutrition and passive immunity.
Pancreatic secretions deliver digestive enzymes (trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, amylase) and bicarbonate into the duodenum, facilitating macronutrient breakdown and pH buffering.
Gastric juice, produced by chief and parietal cells, includes pepsinogen, hydrochloric acid, and intrinsic factor, essential for protein denaturation and absorption of vitamin B12.
Each secretion reflects specialized glandular architecture and biochemical composition, contributing to the rat’s metabolic efficiency, disease resistance, and complex social communication.