In elephants, temporin is the visible liquid secreted by temporal glands. It contains proteins, lipids (notably cholesterol), phenols, cresols and sesquiterpenes (notably farnesol and its derivatives).[1] During musth androgens such as testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and androstenedione are increased in blood and urine.[1]: 110 Temporin has a communicative function among elephant individuals in a group.[1]: 101
In male elephants, temporin is secreted more during the period of musth, a period of heightened sexual arousal and dominance behavior. Of note, not all temporal gland excretions in African elephant bulls do necessarily represent the musth phase.[1]: 111 Female elephants also secrete temporin: African females secrete it quite freely, whereas Asian females secrete it in advanced stage of pregnancy or soon after calving.[1]: 154
In popular culture
In old Sanskrit texts, temporin has been referred to as rut fluid (dāna, or mada) and is considered to be a symbol of potency and vigour.[2]
However, from the point of view of ancient Indian elephant science (gajaśāstra), temporin is not a direct symptom of rut.[3]