[Investigations on the nature of a chemotactic substance produced by the female gametes of Ectocarpus siliculosus : I. Methods, isolation, and detection by Gas Chromatography].

Female gametes of the brown alga Ectocarpus siliculosus produce a sexual attractant which is highly volatile and has a characteristic odor. Two biological test reactions have been worked out for its detection: chemokinesis and positive chemotaxis of the male gametes. The substance can be collected by passing a stream of air through suspensions of female gametes, and can be condensed in a cold trap at-83°C. The substance can be detected by gas chromatography; it is represented by a single peak.