Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation

 

Endocrine regulation of male sexual behavior in rough-skinned newts, Taricha granulosa : role of neurohormones Public Deposited

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/000003050

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  • To determine whether a homologous neurohormone, arginine vasotocin (AVT), can elevate the occurrence of clasping behavior in male rough-skinned newts (Taricha granulosa), intact, sexually inactive males were injected with either AVT or saline. The incidence of courtship was elevated in the group of males injected with AVT, but not in the group injected with saline. When the relative potency of AVT was compared with that of a heterologous but structurally similar neurohormone, arginine vasopressin (AVP), no difference was found in the minimum behaviorally effective dose. Testicular androgens are known to influence the expression of sexual behaviors in male vertebrates. To determine whether androgens modify the behavioral effect of neurohormones, the effects of AVT on the incidence of clasping behavior was measured in castrated newts and compared to the effects in castrated, androgen-implanted newts. When castrated for only a short period of time (18 days), AVT increased the incidence of clasping behavior in unimplanted males, but not in androgen-implanted males. In contrast, when males were castrated for longer periods of time (33 and 54 days), AVT elevated the occurrence of clasping behavior in androgen-implanted males, but not in unimplanted newts. The effect of AVT on the incidence of clasping behavior was also measured in hypophysectomized males to determine if the pituitary is required for newts to respond behaviorally to AVT. When injected with AVT, the incidence of courtship was elevated in hypophysectomized males, sham-operated males, and pituitary transplated males. These experiments support the hypothesis that endogenous neurohormones, in addition to androgens, influence the incidence of sexual behaviors in male T. granulosa.
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