Behavioral and cardiophysiological responses of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) to confrontations with opposite-sexed strangers

Abstract

Common marmosets exhibit under captive conditions socially monogamous propensities. During confrontation with opposite-sexed stranger, in the presence of the pairmate, common marmosets often respond aggressively. However, in the absence of their mates, males actively solicit contact and even sexual interactions with strange females whereas mated females are indifferent to strange males. In the present study behavioral and cardiophysiological responses of pairmates of six established pairs of common marmosets were recorded during confrontation with an opposite-sexed stranger (1) in the presence or (2) in the absence of the familiar pairmate. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate as well as locomotor activity were recorded telemetrically through peritoneally implanted transmitters. Behavioral responses were videotaped and in addition, urine samples from the female individuals were analyzed for their estrogen concentrations to monitor their ovarian cycles. The cardiophysiological values did not differ significantly between the two confrontation conditions. However, compared to baseline, heart rate values of both sexes and in males also blood pressure values, were significantly higher during confrontations. Hence, confrontations with an opposite-sexed conspecific clearly affect cardiophysiological parameters. Between confrontees affiliative behaviors could not been recorded but aggressive and sexual behaviors occurred.

Behavioral characteristics of pair bonding in the black tufted-ear marmoset (Callithrix penicillata)

“…One is that social interaction on the morning of Day 1 was at a low level because of the stress associated with the transfer to a different cage and the encounter with an unknown individual. There are substantial data showing that these events indeed are stressful to marmosets (e.g., Smith et al, 1998; Gerber et al, 2002), and there are also data showing that social interaction is reduced in stressful situations (e.g., Gerber & Schnell, 2004). However, recent data from marmosets show that stress increases social proximity and grooming in males and females at pairing (Smith et al, 2011a).…”

Molecular Brain Imaging of Personality Traits in Nonhuman Primates: A Study of the Common Marmoset

“…In macaque monkeys, behaviors of approach and aggression, which determine dominance, were measured in a test of social challenge involving dyads in a cage (Bachevalier et al 2001;Hadland et al 2003) and with long-term testing of a social group by the focal animal sampling method (Fairbanks et al 2001;Kaplan et al 2002;Newman et al 2005). In common marmosets, prior studies examined the neurochemical underpinnings of affiliative and agonistic behavior (Kinnally et al 2006), anxiety-related behaviors during confrontation with conspecific strangers (Cilia and Piper 1997;Kinnally et al 2006), and the propensity for monogamy (Gerber and Schnell 2004). For integrated analysis of behavioral responses in a social challenge condition in common marmosets, encounter trials between two subjects unfamiliar with each other were conducted (Fig.…”

Salubrious effects of oxytocin on social stress-induced deficits

“…Social isolation or separation from a bonded partner in marmosets increases basal cortisol, stress-induced cortisol response, anxiety-like behavior, and proximity seeking behavior (Johnson et al, 1996; Smith and French, 1997; Smith et al, 1998; Shepherd and French, 1999; Gerber et al, 2002; Gerber and Schnell, 2004; Rukstalis and French, 2005; French et al, 2007; Smith et al, 2011). The effects of social isolation or separation from the bonded partner are similar in titi monkeys (Mendoza and Mason, 1986b; Mendoza and Mason, 1986a; Hennessy et al, 1995; Fernandez-Duque et al, 1997).…”