Evolutionary insights into the regulation of courtship behavior in male amphibians and reptiles

Woolley, Sarah C.; Sakata, Jon T.; Crews, David

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2004.08.021

Cited by 93 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 162 publications

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“…There are excellent reviews of the neuroanatomy of AVT/AVP in fish(Godwin and Thompson, 2012; Thompson and Walton, 2013), amphibians(Woolley and others, 2004; Wilczynski and others, 2005; Boyd, 2013), reptiles(Woolley and others, 2004), birds(Goodson and Bass, 2001; Goodson and others, 2012) and mammals(Rood and De Vries, 2011; Ragen and Bales, 2013). The patterns with which AVT/AVP cell bodies and fibers are distributed in the brain are fairly consistent across vertebrate species(Moore and Lowry, 1998; Goodson and Bass, 2001; Godwin and Thompson, 2012).…”

Section: Comparative Studies Of Avt/avp and Their Receptorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species, sex and individual differences in the vasotocin/vasopressin system: Relationship to neurochemical signaling in the social behavior neural network

Albers

2015

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology

165

152

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Arginine-vasotocin(AVT)/arginine vasopressin (AVP) are members of the AVP/oxytocin (OT) superfamily of peptides that are involved in the regulation of social behavior, social cognition and emotion. Comparative studies have revealed that AVT/AVP and their receptors are found throughout the “Social Behavior Neural Network” and display the properties expected from a signaling system that controls social behavior (i.e., species, sex and individual differences and modulation by gonadal hormones and social factors). Neurochemical signaling within the SBNN likely involves a complex combination of synaptic mechanisms that co-release multiple chemical signals (e.g., classical neurotransmitters and AVT/AVP as well as other peptides) and non-synaptic mechanisms (i.e., volume transmission). Crosstalk between AVP/OT peptides and receptors within the SBNN is likely. A better understanding of the functional properties of neurochemical signaling in the SBNN will allow for a more refined examination of the relationships between this peptide system and species, sex and individual differences in sociality.

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Section: Comparative Studies Of Avt/avp and Their Receptorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species, sex and individual differences in the vasotocin/vasopressin system: Relationship to neurochemical signaling in the social behavior neural network

Albers

2015

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology

165

152

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“…For example, the sex steroid testosterone (T) is necessary to initiate male courtship behavior across many vertebrates (Gwinner and Gwinner, 1994; Leonard and Ferkin, 1999; Lindzey and Crews, 1986; Watson and Parr, 1981; Woolley et al, 2004), but social factors such as territory possession or high social status are also critical regulators of courtship behavior (Fuxjager et al, 2009; Maruska, 2015; Riters et al, 2000). These signals are processed by the brain, but relatively little is known about how the brain integrates hormonal signals and social information to ensure that courtship behavior is produced in an appropriate context.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Across vertebrates, the mPOA is centrally involved in male sexually-motivated behavior, including courtship song in starlings (Alger et al, 2009; Alward et al, 2013; Balthazart and Ball, 2007; Hull et al, 1995; Woolley et al, 2004). Lesions to the mPOA disrupt sexually-motivated behaviors in many species, as well as territorial behavior (Alekseyenko et al, 2007; Alger et al, 2009; Alger and Riters, 2006; Edwards and Einhorn, 1986; Slimp et al, 1978; Woolley et al, 2004). Additionally, the mPOA contains high densities of steroid receptors (Davis and Moore, 1996; Gahr, 2001; Morrell and Pfaff, 1978; Simerly et al, 1990; Wood and Newman, 1995), receives afferent projections from most sensory systems (Simerly and Swanson, 1986) and projects to brain nuclei implicated in several forms of social behavior (Goodson, 2005; Newman, 1999; Riters and Alger, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contributions of testosterone and territory ownership to sexually-motivated behaviors and mRNA expression in the medial preoptic area of male European starlings

Spool

Stevenson

Angyal

et al. 2016

Hormones and Behavior

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Animals integrate social information with their internal endocrine state to control the timing of behavior, but how these signals are integrated in the brain is not understood. The medial preoptic area (mPOA) may play an integrative role in the control of courtship behavior, as it receives projections from multiple sensory systems, and is central to the hormonal control of courtship behavior across vertebrates. Additionally, data from many species implicate opioid and dopaminergic systems in the mPOA in the control of male courtship behavior. We used European starlings to test the hypothesis that testosterone (T) and social status (in the form of territory possession) interact to control the timing of courtship behavior by modulating steroid hormone-, opioid- and dopaminergic-related gene expression in the mPOA. We found that only males given both T and a nesting territory produced high rates of courtship behavior in response to a female. T treatment altered patterns of gene expression in the mPOA by increasing androgen receptor, aromatase, mu-opioid receptor and preproenkephalin mRNA and decreasing tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA expression. Territory possession did not alter mRNA expression in the mPOA, despite the finding that only birds with both T and a nesting territory produced courtship behavior. We propose that T prepares the mPOA to respond to the presence of a female with high rates of courtship song by altering gene expression, but that activity in the mPOA is under a continuous (i.e. tonic) inhibition until a male starling obtains a nesting territory.

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“…Hormones direct much of reproduction and gametogenesis and have considerable influence on reproductive behaviors as well (McEwen 1981, Whittier & Crews 1987, Woolley et al 2004. While male alligators from MI have been studied extensively , the seasonal reproductive hormone profiles of adult females from this region have yet to be explored.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The reproductive hormone cycle of adult female American alligators from a barrier island population

Hamlin

Lowers²,

Kohno

et al. 2014

Reproduction

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Comparatively, little data are available detailing the geographic variation that exists in the reproductive endocrinology of adult alligators, especially those living in barrier islands. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MI) is a unique barrier island environment and home to the Kennedy Space Center (FL, USA). Seasonal patterns of sex steroids were assessed in adult female American alligators from MI monthly from 2008 to 2009, with additional samples collected at more random intervals in 2006, 2007, and 2010. Plasma 17b-estradiol and vitellogenin concentrations peaked in April, coincident with courtship and mating, and showed patterns similar to those observed in adult female alligators in other regions. Plasma concentrations of progesterone, however, showed patterns distinctly different than those reported for alligator populations in other regions and remained relatively constant throughout the year. Plasma DHEA peaked in July around the time of oviposition, decreased in August, and then remained constant for the remaining months, except for a moderate increase in October. Circulating concentrations of DHEA have not been previously assessed in a female crocodilian, and plasma concentrations coincident with reproductive activity suggest a reproductive and/or behavioral role. Interestingly, plasma testosterone concentrations peaked in May of 2008, as has been shown in female alligator populations in other regions, but showed no peak in 2009, demonstrating dramatic variability from year to year. Surveys showed 2009 to be particularly depauperate of alligator nests in MI, and it is possible that testosterone could serve as a strong indicator of breeding success.

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Evolutionary insights into the regulation of courtship behavior in male amphibians and reptiles

Cited by 93 publications

References 162 publications

Species, sex and individual differences in the vasotocin/vasopressin system: Relationship to neurochemical signaling in the social behavior neural network

Species, sex and individual differences in the vasotocin/vasopressin system: Relationship to neurochemical signaling in the social behavior neural network

Contributions of testosterone and territory ownership to sexually-motivated behaviors and mRNA expression in the medial preoptic area of male European starlings

The reproductive hormone cycle of adult female American alligators from a barrier island population

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