Editing Musth (section)

==Physical characteristics==
Elephants in musth often discharge a thick tar-like secretion called [[temporin]] from the temporal gland located on the [[temporal bone|temporal]] sides of the head. Temporin contains [[proteins]], [[lipid]]s (including [[cholesterol]]), [[phenol]] and [[p-Cresol|4-methyl phenol]],<ref>Physiological Correlates of Musth: Lipid Metabolites and Chemical Composition of Exudates. L.E.L Rasmussen and Thomas E Perrin, Physiology & Behavior, October 1999, Volume 67, Issue 4, pp. 539–549, {{doi|10.1016/S0031-9384(99)00114-6}}</ref><ref>Musth in elephants. Deepa Ananth, Zoo's print journal, 15(5), pages 259–262 ([http://www.zoosprint.org/ZooPrintJournal/2000/May/259-262.pdf article] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604223031/http://www.zoosprint.org/ZooPrintJournal/2000/May/259-262.pdf |date=2018-06-04 }})</ref> [[cresols]] and [[sesquiterpenes]] (notably [[farnesol]] and its derivatives).<ref name=Sukumar />{{rp|155}} Secretions and [[urine]] collected from zoo elephants have been shown to contain elevated levels of various highly odorous [[ketone]]s and [[aldehyde]]s.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

[[Testosterone]] levels in an elephant in musth can be on average 60 times greater than in the same elephant at other times (in specific individuals these testosterone levels can even reach as much as 140 times the norm).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rasmussen |first1=Lois E. |last2=Buss |first2=Irven O. |last3=Hess |first3=David L. |last4=Schmidt |first4=Michael B. |title=Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone Concentrations in Elephant Serum and Temporal Gland Secretions |journal=Biology of Reproduction |date=1 March 1984 |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=352–362 |doi=10.1095/biolreprod30.2.352 |pmid=6704470 |doi-access=free }}</ref>