Pre-copulatory behaviour in the male Mongolian gerbil: II. Effects of post-castration sexual and aggressive interactions on responsiveness to androgen

The effects of post-castration interactions with oestrous females on the responsiveness of pre-copulatory patterns to androgens were examined in male Mongolian gerbils. Males that were (EXP group) or were not (NONEXP group) allowed post-castration experience with females were compared. Following cas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAnimal behaviour Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 231 - 239
Main Authors Holman, S.D., Hutchison, J.B., Snelson, D.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier Ltd 1982
Subjects
aggression
castration
copulation
males
Meriones unguiculatus
reproductive behavior
sexual behavior
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Summary:The effects of post-castration interactions with oestrous females on the responsiveness of pre-copulatory patterns to androgens were examined in male Mongolian gerbils. Males that were (EXP group) or were not (NONEXP group) allowed post-castration experience with females were compared. Following castration, male aggressive and female defensive patterns increased significantly in the EXP group; fighting between the pairs also increased. Androgen treatment reduced both fighting and the defensive patterns of test females to pre-castration levels, and induced male pre-copulatory behaviour which was similar to that of the NONEXP group. But restoration of pre-copulatory behaviour in the EXP group to levels shown by the NONEXP group required longer treatment, suggesting that post-castration experience of aggressive interactions decreases the effectiveness of androgen.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
content type line 23
ISSN:0003-3472
1095-8282
DOI:10.1016/S0003-3472(82)80259-5