Male hamster sociosexual behaviors: Effects of testosterone and its metabolites☆

Jb, Powers; Ml, Bergondy; Ja, Matochik

doi:10.1016/0031-9384(85)90149-0

Cited by 72 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…In particular, partner preference was not restored after 6 weeks of testosterone treatment in Orchx→Orchx+T males, although copulation was significantly increased by 5 weeks. This supports the finding by Powers et al [6] that low levels of testosterone in male hamsters will maintain ejaculation, but will not sustain chemosensory investigation. However, castrated males can nonetheless detect FHVS even at low concentrations, suggesting that castration selectively reduces attraction to chemosensory cues, but not their detection [34].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…However, gonadal steroids also promote sexual motivation. Previous studies have shown that castrated male hamsters spend less time in contact with an estrous female and show less chemoinvestigatory behavior towards females or their odors [4][5][6][7]. In rats, castration eliminates partner preference [8] and reduces operant responding for an estrous female [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Partner preference in male hamsters: Steroids, sexual experience and chemosensory cues

Ballard

Wood

2007

Physiology & Behavior

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This study investigated the effects of gonadal steroids on sexual motivation in male Syrian hamsters, using partner preference as a model. Male hamsters were assigned to 5 groups: control (n=4), Intact→Orchx (n=8), Orchx→Orchx+T (n=7), olfactory bulbectomy (BulbX, n=5), and vomeronasal organ lesion (VnoX, n=8). Each male was tested for partner preference before and after sexual experience. Unlike rats, sexually-inexperienced gonad-intact male hamsters preferred the receptive female to a stimulus male. However, sexual experience did not enhance preference for the stimulus female. Castration (orchx) reduced sexual motivation: OrchX males showed no significant preference for the stimulus female. Subsequently, intact males were castrated (Intact→Orchx) and OrchX males received a testosterone implant (Orchx→Orchx+T) to determine the time course of gonadal hormones on partner preference and mating behavior. Partner preference changed significantly in both groups within 6 weeks. In Intact→Orchx males, preference for the stimulus female decreased while Orchx→Orchx+T males increased their preference for the stimulus female. However, significant changes in mating behavior preceded the alterations in partner preference. Chemosensory cues are also important for partner preference. After BulbX, preference for the stimulus female significantly decreased. However, VnoX failed to block partner preference. These results show that partner preference may be even more dependent on testosterone than is sexual behavior. Furthermore, while chemosensory cues are essential for sexual motivation, the vomeronasal organ is not required for partner preference.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Partner preference in male hamsters: Steroids, sexual experience and chemosensory cues

Ballard

Wood

2007

Physiology & Behavior

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“…All males were orchidectomized and received a 10-mm Silastic implant (id: 1.98 mm, od: 3.18mm; Dow Corning, MI) subcutaneously to maintain physiologic levels of testosterone (Powers et al, 1985). At the time of orchidectomy, hamsters were implanted with a 22-ga stainless steel guide cannula (Plastics One, Roanoke, VA) into the lateral ventricle (AP: +1.0 mm, ML: +1.0 mm, DV: −3.0-5.0 mm relative to bregma).…”

Section: Surgeries and Apparatusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Region-specific mechanisms for testosterone-induced Fos in hamster brain

Nagypál

Wood

2007

Brain Research

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Hamsters self-administer androgens. Previously, we determined that testosterone (T) activates select steroid-and opiate-sensitive brain regions. Is T-stimulated neuronal activation androgenic? 35 castrated males with physiologic T replacement (n=7/group) were pre-treated with the androgen antagonist flutamide (15 mg/kg sc) or ethanol (0.25 ml), and infused into the lateral ventricle (ICV) for 4h with 40 μg T (TF and TE, respectively) or 40 μl vehicle (VF and VE). To determine if androgens and opiates activate overlapping brain areas, 7 additional males received 20 μg morphine sulfate ICV following ethanol injection (ME). Immediately after ICV infusion, animals were perfused. 60 μm coronal brain slices were stained for Fos. Fos-positive neurons were counted in a 0.3 mm 2 area from 5 regions previously shown to express T-induced Fos: the posteromedial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTPM), posteromedial amygdala (MeP), lateral habenula (LHb), ventral tegmental area, and lateral pontine nucleus. T induced Fos in all areas reported previously (TE vs. VE, p<0.05), except LHb (p>0.05). Morphine induced Fos in all 5 brain regions (ME vs. VE, p<0.05), indicating that androgens and opiates activate overlapping brain regions. Flutamide alone did not induce Fos (VF vs. VE, p>0.05). Moreover, flutamide treatment blocked T-induced Fos expression only in the steroid-sensitive BSTPM, suggesting that androgens mediate neuronal activation in this area (mean ±SEM: TF: 68.4±13.2 vs. TE: 137.9±17.6, p<0.05). The absence of flutamide effects on T-induced Fos in the steroid-sensitive MeP (TE: 210.6±50.0 vs. TF: 215.3±28.2, p>0.05) suggests that distinct mechanisms activate Fos in individual androgen-responsive nuclei.

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“…Odour-producing glands increase in size and secretory activity at puberty and during the breeding season when androgen concentrations are high (Quay, 1968;Christiansen et al, 1978;Jannett, 1978;Adams et al, 1980). Castration results in a decrease in the development and reduced secretory activity by specialized glands and tissues in the integu¬ ment; these changes are reversed by androgen replacement (Jannett, 1978;Powers et al, 1985;Rowsemitt et al, 1988;Johnston, 1990;Miernicki et al, 1990). Pituitary hormones may also affect odour production (Thody & Shuster, 1975;Keverne, 1981), independently of or synergistically with androgens (Ebling et al, 1975;Thody et al, 1976).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of gonadal hormones on odours emitted by male meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

Ferkin

Gorman²,

Zucker³

1992

Reproduction

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Male hamster sociosexual behaviors: Effects of testosterone and its metabolites☆

Cited by 72 publications

References 63 publications

Partner preference in male hamsters: Steroids, sexual experience and chemosensory cues

Partner preference in male hamsters: Steroids, sexual experience and chemosensory cues

Region-specific mechanisms for testosterone-induced Fos in hamster brain

Influence of gonadal hormones on odours emitted by male meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

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