Diversity and Adaptation in Rodent Copulatory Behavior

Dewsbury, Donald A.

doi:10.1126/science.1188377

Cited by 179 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Likewise, ornate penile morphologies appear to have evolved in conjunction with complex copulatory patterns, including genital locks, multiple intromissions and pelvic thrusting (Dewsbury 1975). For instance, in some primates, keratinized penile spines purportedly serve a mechanical function by gripping the walls of the female's reproductive opening during copulation (Dixson 1987).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to naturally circulating androgens during foetal life incurs direct reproductive costs in female spotted hyenas, but is prerequisite for male mating

Drea¹,

Place²,

Weldele³

et al. 2002

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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Among all extant mammals, only the female spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) mates and gives birth through the tip of a peniform clitoris. Clitoral morphology is modulated by foetal exposure to endogenous, maternal androgens. First births through this organ are prolonged and remarkably difficult, often causing death in neonates. Additionally, mating poses a mechanical challenge for males, as they must reach an anterior position on the female's abdomen and then achieve entry at the site of the retracted clitoris. Here, we report that interfering with the actions of androgens prenatally permanently modifies hyena urogenital anatomy, facilitating subsequent parturition in nulliparous females who, thereby, produce live cubs. By contrast, comparable, permanent anatomical changes in males probably preclude reproduction, as exposure to prenatal anti-androgens produces a penis that is too short and has the wrong shape necessary for insertion during copulation. These data demonstrate that the reproductive costs of clitoral delivery result from exposure of the female foetus to naturally circulating androgens. Moreover, the same androgens that render an extremely unusual and laborious process even more reproductively costly in the female are apparently essential to the male's physical ability to reproduce with a normally masculinized female.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to naturally circulating androgens during foetal life incurs direct reproductive costs in female spotted hyenas, but is prerequisite for male mating

Drea¹,

Place²,

Weldele³

et al. 2002

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

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“…In a series of studies, Dewsbury and colleagues studied the mating behavior of several species of Peromyscus including several outgroups (reviewed in Langtimm and Dewsbury, 1991). All Peromyscus species examined were distinct from other neotomine species because males and females did not form a copulatory lock, whereas the species in the Haplomylomys subgenus (P. eremicus and P. californicus) could be distinguished from the Peromyscus subgenus by the presence of intra-vaginal thrusting during mating (Dewsbury, 1975). P. melanophrys differed from other Peromyscus species included in the present study in that its copulatory behavior lacked several behavioral characteristics including a stereotyped dismount after mating (Dewsbury, 1979).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social and photoperiod effects on reproduction in five species of Peromyscus

Trainor

Martin

Greiwe

et al. 2006

General and Comparative Endocrinology

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At temperate latitudes, mammals and birds use changes in day length to time their reproductive activities to coincide with seasonal fluctuations in the environment. Close to the equator, however, conditions permissive of breeding do not track changes in day length as well, so other cues may be more important than photoperiod. In a variety of vertebrates, social interactions regulate breeding condition. We hypothesized that individuals of different species of Peromyscus mice found closer to the equator would respond more strongly to housing with an opposite sex conspecific than they would to photoperiod. To test this hypothesis, we compared the effects of long and short day lengths versus 8 days of pair housing with a female on reproductive tissue weights and testosterone (T) concentrations in five species of Peromyscus (P. aztecus, P. eremicus, P. maniculatus, P. melanophrys, and P. polionotus). After 13 weeks of short days (8L:16D), P. maniculatus, P. melanophrys, and P. polionotus significantly reduced relative testes mass compared to long day (16L: 8D) housed animals. Social housing, however, had no effect on tissue weights in any species. However, male P. polionotus paired with females for 8 days increased T concentrations compared to single-housed males, whereas paired P. maniculatus reduced T. These data suggest that mechanisms of photoperiodic and social regulation of reproductive function are mediated by different physiological mechanisms among closely-related species and that both phylogeny and environmental factors contribute to patterns of reproductive plasticity.

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“…Although prairie voles and montane voles are similar in mating frequency (Insel & Hulihan, 1995), they differ in specific components of sexual behavior. Prairie voles display a slower rate of intravaginal thrusting and need fewer ejaculations to reach satiety than do montane voles (Dewsbury, 1973;Dewsbury, 1975;Gray & Dewsbury, 1973). The vaginal sensory mechanism plays an important role in reward (Oldenburger et al, 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dopamine D2 receptor-mediated regulation of partner preferences in female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster): A mechanism for pair bonding?

Wang¹,

Guo-zhong²,

Cascio³

et al. 1999

Behavioral Neuroscience

175

145

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This study examined the role of dopamine (DA) in partner preference (PP) formation in female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). The nonspecific DA antagonist haloperidol blocked mating-induced PP, whereas the nonspecific DA agonist apomorphine induced PP without mating. The D2 antagonist eticlopride, but not the Dl antagonist SCH23390, blocked PP, whereas the D2 agonist quinpirole, but not the Dl agonist SKF38393, induced PP without mating. Injections of eticlopride before or immediately after mating, but not 24 hr after mating, impaired PP, indicating that DA's effects were not due to an interference with mating or sensory recognition. Finally, intracerebroventricular injections of eticlopride diminished PP. Together, these data suggest that mating-induced PP requires activation of D2 receptors and that social experience may activate dopaminergic pathways, with enduring effects on behavior.

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Diversity and Adaptation in Rodent Copulatory Behavior

Cited by 179 publications

References 64 publications

Exposure to naturally circulating androgens during foetal life incurs direct reproductive costs in female spotted hyenas, but is prerequisite for male mating

Exposure to naturally circulating androgens during foetal life incurs direct reproductive costs in female spotted hyenas, but is prerequisite for male mating

Social and photoperiod effects on reproduction in five species of Peromyscus

Dopamine D2 receptor-mediated regulation of partner preferences in female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster): A mechanism for pair bonding?

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