Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “COURTSHIP”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Release of chemicals by prostaglandin-treated female fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, that stimulate male courtship.

Intramuscular injection of PGF2 alpha tromethamine salt (Sigma) did not induce sexual behavior in female fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, when in the presence of male conspecific. However, coresident males exhibited an increased frequency of courtship behavior, consisting of approach and leading, to females following PGF2 alpha treatment. When presented with both saline-injected and PGF2 alpha-injected females, males showed increased courtship only to PGF2 alpha-treated females. Isolated males also showed increased leading behavior following the introduction of water exposed to PGF2 alpha-treated females, but not with water exposed to PGF2 alpha-treated males, untreated females or males, or PGF2 alpha alone. Hence, PGF2 alpha appears to induce the release of a female-specific chemical in P. promelas that triggers courting behavior in conspecific males.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Effects of early sex steroid hormone treatment on courtship behavior and sexual attractivity in the red-sided garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis.

Previous research has shown that exogenous androgen fails to elicit courtship (chin-rubbing) behavior in adult male or female red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis). However, gonadectomized and intact newborn male and female red-sided garter snakes given silastic capsules containing testosterone exhibit chin-rubbing behavior; gonadectomized and untreated animals do not show this behavior. Both males and females also exhibit chin-rubbing behavior when treated with testosterone as yearlings. Hibernation stimulates chin-rubbing behavior only in males that have received androgen treatment as a neonate or as a yearling. Previous research has also shown that adult females, but not adult males, are courted if given estrogen treatment. Both newborn males and females will elicit chin-rubbing behavior from adult males if given estrogen treatment, indicating production and release of an attractiveness pheromone characteristic of adult females. Male red-sided garter snake breed for the first time on emergence from their second hibernation, whereas females probably do not breed until their third year of life. These data suggest that in the red-sided garter snake, a species that exhibits a dissociated reproductive tactic, sex steroid hormones act to organize central nervous system mechanisms subserving courtship behavior such that temperature, and not hormonal, fluctuations activate sexual behavior in the adult organism.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

Pinealectomy blocks vernal courtship behavior in red-sided garter snakes.

Male red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) court only on emergence from winter dormancy. The salient proximate factor responsible for the initiation of courtship behavior appears to be warm ambient temperatures subsequent to sustained exposure to cold temperatures. In the present study, autumn-captured garter snakes were pinealectomized or sham-pinealectomized 1-2 weeks prior to hibernation. After 17 weeks of maintenance in several ambient lighting and temperature conditions, all males were tested for the presence of courtship behavior. No pinealectomized animals exhibited any indications of reproductive behavior, whereas 53% of sham-pinealectomized males actively courted females. Photoperiod did not influence the prevalence of mating behavior. These results suggest that the pineal gland mediates non-photoperiodic seasonal information in the garter snake. This is the first demonstration, in any vertebrate species, that the pineal gland can directly influence reproductive behavior.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Facilitation of courtship behavior in the male red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) following lesions of the septum or nucleus sphericus.

Courtship behavior in male red-sided garter snakes is limited to the period immediately following spring emergence. Lesions of the septum or nucleus sphericus prior to hibernation facilitate courtship behavior upon emergence the following spring. These lesions also had a significant effect on the reproductive physiology of the male snake. Snakes with lesions in the nucleus sphericus had a significantly higher concentration of circulating androgens compared to the control group. While animals with lesions in the septum exhibited elevated levels of circulating androgens, they were not statistically elevated when compared to the control group. The quantity of sexual granules in the epithelium of the renal sexual segment, a secondary sexual characteristic of male squamate reptiles, was significantly greater in lesioned animals. These results are the first to demonstrate a central inhibitory control of sexual behavior in a snake.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Role of catecholamines in the courtship behavior of male ring doves.

The role of catecholamines in the expression of male courtship behavior in ring doves was examined using central administration of pharmacological agents. Males treated with 6-hydroxydopamine or U-14,624, which depleted norepinephrine (NE) levels in the preoptic-hypothalamic area, showed increased levels of bow-coo and nest-coo displays. Conversely, males treated with tyramine or desipramine, which elevated NE levels in the preoptic-hypothalamic area, showed decreased levels of bow-coo and nest-coo displays. Drug-induced changes in dopamine levels were not consistent with any changes in behavior. This suggests that in the male ring dove NE in the preoptic-hypothalamic area is important in the expression of courtship displays.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Courtship in S. cerevisiae: both cell types choose mating partners by responding to the strongest pheromone signal.

We demonstrate that during the courtship stage of conjugation, S. cerevisiae a cells choose the alpha cell producing the highest level of pheromone from among potential mating partners. From this result and that for alpha cells we conclude that both a and alpha cells act as signaling cells during courtship, that both cell types respond by discriminating different levels of signal, and that the signals are the mating pheromones. Responding cells that are supersensitive to signal fail to discriminate pheromone-producing from nonproducing cells to an extent that depends on their degree of supersensitivity. We propose that partner selection in S. cerevisiae results from polarized morphogenesis of a responding cell in the direction of highest pheromone concentration and that cells defective in discriminating this gradient execute a default pathway in which an adjacent cell is selected at random.

Conjugation, Genetic↗
PubMed1991

The interactions of courtship, feeding, and locomotion in the behavioral hierarchy of the snail Helix aspersa.

Starvation both increased the number of snails that exhibited feeding (i.e., increased feeding proclivity) and decreased the latencies of response to a food stimulus (i.e., increased food arousal). Feeding inhibited locomotion, although starvation itself had no effect. Sexual arousal (the intensity of courtship) increased locomotion, but only in the absence of a mating partner. Sexual proclivity (the likelihood of a snail to court with conspecifics) had no effect on locomotion. In general, proclivity and arousal had different effects on behavior. Food deprivation did not alter the preference of sexually aroused snails for sexual stimuli over food stimuli Both starved and fed courting pairs responded to a food stimulus only during periods of low sexual arousal, although when not sexually aroused, starved snails usually increased the amount of time they spent in contact with a food stimulus. These results suggest that courtship can suppress feeding and that the expression of feeding behavior is dependent upon the occurrence of low levels of sexual arousal (time sharing).

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Courtship and copulation in the adult male green anole: effects of season, hormone and female contact on reproductive behavior and morphology.

Interactions among reproductive season, testosterone (T) and female presence were investigated on the structure and function of forebrain and neuromuscular systems controlling courtship and copulation in the green anole lizard. Under breeding (BS) or non-breeding (NBS) environmental conditions, male green anoles were implanted with either T or blank capsules and exposed to one of three female stimulus conditions: physical, visual or no female contact. T and at least visual exposure to females increased courtship displays (extension of a throat fan, or dewlap), and these effects were greater during the BS than NBS. T also facilitated copulation, and did so to a greater extent in the BS. The hormone increased soma size in the preoptic area (POA) and amygdala (AMY), and in the AMY the effects were greater in the BS than NBS. Cross-sectional areas of copulatory organs and associated muscle fibers were enhanced by T, and more so in the BS than NBS. However, no effects on morphology of dewlap motoneurons or muscles or copulatory motoneurons were detected. Thus, (1) changes in behavior and neural and/or muscular morphology are not always parallel and (2) differences in responsiveness to T exist across seasons and among tissues.

Amygdala↗
PubMed2005

Neural circuitry that governs Drosophila male courtship behavior.

Male-specific fruitless (fru) products (Fru(M)) are both necessary and sufficient to "hardwire" the potential for male courtship behavior into the Drosophila nervous system. Fru(M) is expressed in approximately 2% of neurons in the male nervous system, but not in the female. We have targeted the insertion of GAL4 into the fru locus, allowing us to visualize and manipulate the Fru(M)-expressing neurons in the male as well as their counterparts in the female. We present evidence that these neurons are directly and specifically involved in male courtship behavior and that at least some of them are interconnected in a circuit. This circuit includes olfactory neurons required for the behavioral response to sex pheromones. Anatomical differences in this circuit that might account for the dramatic differences in male and female sexual behavior are not apparent.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Unconventional sex: fresh approaches to courtship learning.

Understanding the complex array of genes, proteins and cells involved in learning and memory is a major challenge for neuroscientists. Using the genetically powerful model system, Drosophila melanogaster, and its well-studied courtship behavior, investigators have begun to delineate essential elements of associative and nonassociative behavioral plasticity. Advances in transgenic tools and developments in behavioral assays have increased the power of studying courtship learning in the fruit fly.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Differentiation of dialects and courtship strategies in allopatric populations of Drosophila teissieri.

Intra-specific differentiation has been investigated between two geographically isolated populations of D. teissieri, one from Brazzaville (Congo) and the other from Silinda (Zimbabwe). Courtship songs were analyzed on 23 parameters. In addition, certain parameters related to sexual activity (five) and wing morphology (five) were also examined. As in other Drosophilidae, there are two types of courtship songs resulting from wing vibration: the love song, and the sine song. Love songs from Brazzaville are longer than those from Silinda (334ms vs. 216) with a tendency to smaller and more regular inter-pulse intervals (24.56ms vs. 25.5). The sine songs (SS) are about six times longer than the love songs in each population, with an adaptation of their duration according to the receptivity of the female in Brazzaville. All the LS temporal parameters, except the interpulse interval mean, are significantly different between the two populations. The Brazzaville flies show a greater acoustic activity and have higher mating success than the Silinda ones (53.3% vs. 27.7%). Their wings are slightly shorter and wider than those from Silinda. The role of acoustic parameters, sexual activity and wing physical constraints are discussed in the perspective of incipient speciation.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Forebrain AVT and courtship in a fish with male alternative reproductive tactics.

In this paper, we present the results of cellular and molecular studies on the neuroendocrine correlates of male sexual polymorphism in a population of the blenniid fish Salaria pavo (Risso). Bigger and older males defend nests, whereas smaller and younger males mimic female nuptial coloration and behavior to gain access to nests and sneak fertilizations. In this population, sex-role reversal in courtship also occurs (i.e., females are the courting sex). Immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to examine the production of arginine vasotocin (AVT) peptide and messenger RNA, respectively. The expression of AVT mRNA on a per-cell basis was correlated with mating behavior, rather than with sex morphotype, which suggests that the greater level of AVT mRNA expression in females and sneakers is correlated with the production of courtship behavior. On the other hand, the number and size of AVT peptide-producing cells in both male types is higher or larger, respectively, than in females, which suggests that it is correlated with sex morphotype, rather than with mating behavior.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Non-verbal behavior as courtship signals: the role of control and choice in selecting partners.

In this work, we provide evidence based on direct observation of behavior in encounters of opposite-sexed strangers, that women initiate and "control" the outcome. In the first minute of these videotaped 10-min interactions, neither female "solicitation" behavior nor "negative" behavior is strongly related to professed interest in the man, while female "affirmative" behavior at this stage modulates male verbal output in later stages (4-10 min). Although the rate of female courtship-like behavior is significantly higher in the first minute, it is only in the fourth to tenth minute that the rate of female courtship-like behavior is correlated with professed female interest. We hypothesize that this serves as a strategic dynamic reflecting sexual asymmetry in parental investment and the potential cost of male deception to women. Ambiguous protean behavioral strategies veil individuals' intentions and make their future actions unpredictable. These behavioral strategies may result in men's overestimation of female sexual interest.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

PGal4 excision reveals the pleiotropic effects of Voila, a Drosophila locus that affects development and courtship behaviour.

In Drosophila melanogaster, the PGal4 transposon inserted at the chromosomal site 86E1-2 is associated with the Voila1 allele that causes multiple phenotypes. Homozygous Voila1/1 flies rarely reach adulthood and heterozygous Voila1/+ adult males display strong homosexual courtship behaviour. Both normal behavioural and developmental phenotypes were rescued by remobilizing the PGal4 element. Yet, the rescue of heterosexual courtship and of adult viability did not occur in the same strains, indicating that these defects have different genetic origins. Furthermore, many strains showed a partial rescue of both characters. Molecular analysis revealed that the PGal4 transposon is inserted upstream of the 5'UTR of the prospero gene. The excision strains with no detectable fragment of the PGal4 transposon remaining showed a rescued viability for homozygote adults. Moreover, the developmental period with the highest homozygote lethality was correlated with the size of PGal4 element that remained inserted at the Voila locus. This suggests a relationship between developmental viability and the amount of DNA inserted within the promoter of prospero.

5' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed2001

Courtship and mating behaviour of interspecific Nasonia hybrids (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae): a grandfather effect.

Nasonia courtship behaviour includes easily quantifiable, stereotyped components. We analysed displays of N. vitripennis x N. longicornis hybrid males. Most of them performed well-organised displays that were intermediate between the parental species. However, in both reciprocal crosses, a significant bias towards the behaviour of the grandpaternal species was observed. Possible explanations for this effect are a biased recovery of genotypes, either due to nucleo-cytoplasmic interaction or non-mendelian transmission, or differential activation of genes in hybrid females. This study is a first step towards unravelling the genetic architecture of courtship behaviour of Nasonia, which may provide information about factors responsible for species isolation.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Stimuli for male mouse (Mus musculus) ultrasonic courtship vocalizations: presence of female chemosignals and/or absence of male chemosignals.

In research on animal chemocommunication, biological odors are sometimes presented by being applied to a "neutral" animal (e.g., castrated or ovariectomized conspecific). This technique is typically utilized when the behavioral response to the odor requires the presence of a conspecific. In five experiments, mice (Mus musculus) that might be expected to be neutral stimuli were examined for their abilities to elicit ultrasonic courtship vocalizations from male mice. Paradoxically, adult castrated males, adult males that were neonatally castrated, hypophysectomized males, prepubertal females, and hypophysectomized females all elicited more vocalizations than would have been predicted from previous research in which their urine alone was used as the stimulus. These and previous results are consistent with courtship vocalizations being promoted by chemosignals from females and/or by an absence of cues from males. Thus a truly neutral conspecific for presenting female sex odors may not exist in mice.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

A double-switch system regulates male courtship behavior in male and female Drosophila melanogaster.

Current models describe male-specific fruitless (fruM) as a genetic 'switch' regulating sexual behavior in Drosophila melanogaster, and they postulate that female (F) and male (M) doublesex (dsx) products control body sexual morphology. In contradiction to this simple model, we show that dsx, as well as fruM and non-sex-specific retained (retn), affect both male and female sexual behaviors. In females, both retn and dsxF contribute to female receptivity, and both genes act to repress male-like courtship activity in the presence or absence of fruM. In males, consistent with the opposing functions of dsxM and dsxF, dsxM acts as a positive factor for male courtship. retn also acts counter to fruM in the development of the male-specific muscle of Lawrence. Molecularly, retn seems to regulate sexual behavior via a previously described complex that represses zerknullt. Thus, we show that fru and dsx together act as a 'switch' system regulating behavior in the context of other developmental genes, such as retn.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Is the heritability for courtship and mating speed in Drosophila (fruit fly) low?

Empirical studies indicate that heritable variation for courtship behaviour in Drosophila is often not detectable, whereas mating speed has a low heritability. These patterns have been used to make inferences about the association between mating behaviours and fitness. However, mating behaviours have been scored as single events, which can lead to underestimates of heritability values relevant to the lifetime fitness of an organism. To test this, repeated measurements on the same individuals were undertaken for time to courtship and mating in Drosophila melanogaster in both parental and offspring generations. Although there was no detectable heritable variation for both traits when parent-offspring comparisons were based on single events, heritabilities were significant and intermediate when the behaviour of each individual was averaged over several events. Estimates for mating behaviours relevant to the fitness of organisms are therefore much higher than indicated by single-event experiments.

Analysis of Variance↗