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Courtship behavior of male white perch, Morone americana: evidence for control by androgens.
- Source :
-
Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology [Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol] 2001 Nov; Vol. 130 (4), pp. 731-40. - Publication Year :
- 2001
-
Abstract
- Courtship behaviors are androgen-dependent in many vertebrates and castration often decreases courtship. We examined the effectiveness of castration in reducing courtship behaviors and 11-ketotestosterone (KT) and testosterone (T) in restoring them in male white perch. Castrates were given implants containing KT, T or no hormone. Sham-operated males received implants without hormone. Three weeks later, males were exposed to an ovulated female for 1 h and two courtship behaviors were quantified. Attending behavior involves close and continuous following of a female with occasional contact. Circling involves rapid transits around the female in a circular pattern or back and forth in front of her. In plasma samples taken immediately after observations, KT and T were below detectable levels in castrated males but at high physiological levels in males implanted with KT or T. Castrated males given KT attended females more than castrated males given T implants or implants containing no hormone, but not more than sham-operated males. Circling was eliminated by castration but restored by implantation with T or 11-KT to values exhibited by sham-operated males. This is one of the few demonstrations that KT can regulate courtship behavior in a non-territorial and economically important fish species.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1095-6433
- Volume :
- 130
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 11691609
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/s1095-6433(01)00405-6