Effect of Exogenous Hormones on the Tactile Sensitivity of the Canary Brood Patch

Hinde, Robert A.; Steel, Elizabeth

doi:10.1677/joe.0.0300355

Cited by 33 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 3 publications

(4 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…One possible means by which these hormones might enhance behavioral responses in the signal receiver is by modifying the way in which the receiver processes the signal. Such hormone-dependent modification of signal processing occurs in several vertebrates, including humans [Hinde and Steele, 1964;Komisaruk et al, 1972;Wright and Crow, 1973;Elkind-Hirsch et al 1992;Penna et al, 1992;Sisneros et al, 2004;Wal-purger et al, 2004;Maney et al, 2006; see Zakon and Smith, 2002, for review], and such plasticity might even serve as an adaptable mechanism by which communication between sender and receiver is improved during the breeding season [Sisneros et al, 2004].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive Hormones Modify Reception of Species-Typical Communication Signals in a Female Anuran

Lynch

Wilczynski²

2007

Brain Behav Evol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In many vertebrates, the production and reception of species-typical courtship signals occurs when gonadotropin and gonadal hormone levels are elevated. These hormones may modify sensory processing in the signal receiver in a way that enhances behavioral responses to the signal. We examined this possibility in female túngara frogs (Physalaemus pustulosus) by treating them with either gonadotropin (which elevated estradiol) or saline and exposing them to either mate choruses or silence. Expression of an activity-dependent gene, egr-1, was quantified within two sub-nuclei of the auditory midbrain to investigate whether gonadotropin plus chorus exposure induced greater egr-1 induction than either of these stimuli alone. The laminar nucleus (LN), a sub-nucleus of the torus semicircularis that contains steroid receptors, exhibited elevated egr-1 induction in response to chorus exposure and gonadotropin treatment. Further analysis revealed that neither chorus exposure nor gonadotropin treatment alone elevated egr-1 expression in comparison to baseline levels whereas gonadotropin + chorus exposure did. This suggests that mate signals and hormones together produce an additive effect so that together they induce more egr-1 expression than either alone. Our previously published studies of female túngara frogs reveal that (1) gonadotropin-induced estradiol elevations also increase behavioral responses to male signals, and (2) reception of male signals elevates estradiol levels in the female. Here, we report data that reveal a novel mechanism by which males exploit female sensory processing to increase behavioral responses to their courtship signals.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive Hormones Modify Reception of Species-Typical Communication Signals in a Female Anuran

Lynch

Wilczynski²

2007

Brain Behav Evol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Furtherm ore, after castration the decline of sexual activity is not necessarily correlated with the morphological change in glans penis [Aronson and Cooper, 1967;Beach and Westbrook, 1968]. However, in females, except for a few reports [Herren, 1933;Hinde and Steel, 1964] that indicate a hor monal effect on peripheral sensory systems, the m atter has not been extensively investigated.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Estrogen treatment alone, rather than progesterone or estrogen with progesterone, was chosen for the investigation because it has been reported that progesterone does not have a peripheral sensory effect [Hinde and Steel, 1964], In female rats, estrogen alone can induce estrous behavior [Davidson et at., 1968;Peaff, 1970a], The area of skin chosen for study was the perineal region of the female rat, which is innervated by a branch of the pudendal nerve. Film study of female rat sexual behavior has shown that this area of skin is touched by the male rat during copulation [Pfaff, 1970b[Pfaff, , 1971.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Estrogen Treatment on the Size of Receptive Field and Response Threshold of Pudendal Nerve in the Female Rat

Kow¹,

Pfaff²

1973

Neuroendocrinology

198

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Receptive fields and response thresholds were determined by stimulation with a camel hair brush and von Frey hairs during recording from a specific branch of the pudendal nerve, in untreated and estrogen-treated ovariectomized female rats. The receptive field of this pudendal nerve branch is located on the perineal skin of the female rat, extending in some cases onto the back of the leg. Estrogen treatment caused an expansion of the receptive field, and a trend toward increased receptor sensitivity within the receptive field. The estrogen effect is appropriate to the type of stimulation applied by the male rat during induction of the lordosis response: pelvic thrusting by the male contacts the area of the female’s skin included in this receptive field and should result in phasic responses, which we find to be estrogen-sensitive, rather than tonic, long-sustained responses, which are not estrogen-sensitive. In these pudendal nerve recordings, there were considerable overlaps between estrogen-treated and untreated groups both in receptive field size and sensitivity. Unless specific, strongly estrogen-sensitive receptors have been partially masked by our stimulation and recording methods, it does not seem likely that this peripheral, somatosensory estrogen effect could by itself account for the overall estrogen effect upon the lordosis reflex.

show abstract

“…The brood patch was examined, and its tactile threshold assessed, on the 4 days preceding the first injection, and five times a week thereafter for 3 weeks. The rating scales used for defeathering and vascularity are given by , and the method for assessing the tactile sensitivity by Hinde & Steel (1964).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Oestrogen, Progesterone and Prolactin on Brood Patch Formation in Ovariectomized Canaries

Hutchison¹,

Hinde²,

Steel³

1967

Journal of Endocrinology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The effects of certain exogenous hormones on the brood patch of ovariectomized canaries during the non-breeding season are described.Defeathering and vascularity of the brood patch were produced by oestrogen alone and by combinations of oestrogen and progesterone or prolactin, but not by progesterone or prolactin alone. The development of vascularity varied with the dose level of oestrogen: a dose of 0\m=.\2 mg. oestrogen produced stage 3 vascularity, which normally occurs at the time of egg-laying. There was a significant fall in the tactile sensitivity threshold of the brood patch in females treated with oestrogen and progesterone, and in one group treated with progesterone alone. All other groups showed no significant changes.Oestrogen alone and in combination with progesterone and prolactin caused increase in oviduct weight.These results confirm the view derived from experiments with intact canaries that oestrogen produces vascularity, but that combinations of oestrogen and prolactin or possibly progesterone are necessary for defeathering. In addition these experiments indicate that oestrogen and progesterone are necessary for a change in sensitivity threshold of the brood patch.

show abstract

Effect of Exogenous Hormones on the Tactile Sensitivity of the Canary Brood Patch

Cited by 33 publications

References 3 publications

Reproductive Hormones Modify Reception of Species-Typical Communication Signals in a Female Anuran

Reproductive Hormones Modify Reception of Species-Typical Communication Signals in a Female Anuran

Effects of Estrogen Treatment on the Size of Receptive Field and Response Threshold of Pudendal Nerve in the Female Rat

The Effects of Oestrogen, Progesterone and Prolactin on Brood Patch Formation in Ovariectomized Canaries

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About