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At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Differential effect of environmental temperature on morphine physical dependence and abstinence.

1) Ambient temperature (Ta) significantly influenced the display of 4 of the 14 naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs (nesting, flat posture, vocalization, dyspnea) in morphine-dependent, non-hibernating ground squirrels (Citellus lateralis). 2) Analysis of variance performed on the six quantified signs revealed that Ta during withdrawal, but not during the development of physical dependence, was a significant factor in determining the expression of two signs (nesting and vocalization). 3) The interaction between the influence of Ta during the periods of morphine administration and abstinence was a significant factor in determining the expression of nesting behavior, a finding that is consistent with the natural role of nesting as a behavioral thermoregulatory response. 4) We conclude that environmental temperature modulates the expression of selected components of the naloxone-precipitated abstinence syndrome in C. lateralis without exerting a measurable influence on the development of morphine physical dependence itself.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Effect of pinealectomy on broodiness of turkey hens.

Large White breeder hens with a history of broody behavior were recycled into a second reproductive cycle following pinealectomy. Pinealectomy did not alter the performance of broody hens with respect to time to first egg, duration of egg production, eggs per hen, number and duration of egg sequences, number and duration of pauses, time to onset of broody nesting behavior, or persistency of nesting. It was concluded that the pineal gland does not play an essential role in the onset or maintenance of broodiness in turkey hens.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Behavior patterns of cold-resistant golden spiny mouse Acomys russatus.

Nesting behavior and food storage were studied in a cold-resistant (CR) population of the golden spiny mouse, Acomys russatus, in Southern Sinai at an altitude of 1600 m. CR-mice, in contrast to cold-sensitive (CS) ones, built nests in which they stored food. Such mice were found to be winter-solitary. These results show that food supply is an essential parameter for the survival of CR-mice during winter. Therefore, it is suggested that food supply rather than energy conservation was the main driving force in the selection of a solitary behavior pattern of CR-mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Quantitative comparison of maternal ethanol and maternal tertiary butanol diet on postnatal development.

The mechanism by which developmental anomalies associated with the fetal alcohol syndrome are produced is not understood. Current hypotheses include altered maternal function and direct action of ethanol or its metabolic product, acetaldehyde, on embryonic tissue. Pregnant mice were fed liquid diets containing either ethanol (3.6% w/v) or tertiary butanol in concentrations of 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00% (w/v) from day 6 to day 20 of gestation. Untreated surrogate maternal animals were substituted in half of the original litters to gain insight into the role played by maternal nutritional and behavioral factors. Quantitatively, t-butanol was approximately 5 times more potent than ethanol in producing a developmental delay in post-parturition physiological and psychomotor performance scores. The existence of significant postnatal maternal nutritional and behavioral factors affecting lactation and/or nesting behavior were also evident at the higher concentrations of alcohol. The results from this study are consistent with the hypothesis that ethanol per se and not acetaldehyde is primarily responsible for the fetal alcohol syndrome.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Effects of one-stage or serial transections of the lateral olfactory tracts on behavior and plasma testosterone levels in male hamsters.

Bilateral transections of the later olfactory (LOT) in male hamsters at the rostral border of the olfactory tubercle or anterior to the tubercle produced severe deficits in mounting, scent marking, food hoarding and nesting behaviors. There were no impairments of these behaviors following unilateral transections. Cutting of the LOT in two stages, and provision of additional experience in sexual and territorial behaviors during the interval between the first and second transection, did not alleviate the behavioral deficits. Impairments in mounting and scent marking were dissociated in some subjects, indicating individual differences in the hamsters' dependence on chemosensory cues for the regulation of these two types of social behavior. It is suggested that the apparent sparing of behavioral function which has been associated with gradual destruction of nervous tissue is due to the development of alternate mechanisms of response to environmental cues, and may be more difficult when brain damage is in structures which initially process these cues. Although sexual and territorial behaviors in the hamster are dependent on gonadal hormones, the observed impairments of these behaviors could not be explained as indirect consequences of lesion effects on the hypophysiogonadal axis. Circulating testosterone (T) levels in experimental subjects were not different from levels in control (sham-operated) subjects. An inverse correlation was observed between the control subjects' circulating T levels and their incidence of scent marking. A similar correlation was observed between postoperative T levels and preoperative marking rates in experimental subjects, despite the fact that most subjects failed to scent mark after bilateral LOT transections. The latter observation strengthens the inference that the bilateral deficits were independent of changes in basal hormone levels.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Lesions of gonadotropin-releasing hormone-immunoreactive terminal nerve cells: effects on the reproductive behavior of male dwarf gouramis.

Functions of the terminal nerve (TN) are largely unknown. To examine whether gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-immunoreactive TN cells (TN-GnRH cells) are involved in the control of reproductive behavior, effects of lesions of TN-GnRH cells were studied in male dwarf gouramis, Colisa lalia. After bilateral electrolytic lesion, a characteristic impairment was observed in one of the repertoires of male reproductive behavior, nest-building. The occurrence of mating trials in which males showed no nest-building was increased. However, the incidence of nest-building behavior during postoperative trials was not affected by the lesion. No impairment was observed in other reproductive repertoires. These results suggest that (1) TN-GnRH cells are involved in the control of the threshold for nest-building behavior initiation and (2) TN-GnRH cells are not a prerequisite for other aspects of reproductive behavior in the male gouramis.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Maternal behavior. Induction of biological regulation in the animal].

The author assesses the current state of knowledge of the neuroendocrinological mechanisms in the induction of maternal behavior in animals in the immediate prepartum (nesting behavior) and in the post-partum, and of the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of this behavior (principally, feed-back from offsprings). Oxytocine (OT) appears very important for the induction of maternal behavior because of central targets of the parvocellular system of the hypothalamus. In fact, we have observed that parturition produces modifications in the RNAm of OT and of OT receptors: both in number and Bmax. An artificial induction of the behavior, outside parturition, is possible to a certain extent after a central, intra-cisternal, administration of OT. Other neuro-hormones have an important role: the modification of the balance of oestroprogestatives at the end of gestancy is absolutely necessary, vasopressin, endogeneous opioids which have a facilitatory effect, may be by an indirect stimulation of OT. Maternal behavior may also be artificially induced by a cervico-vaginal stimulation of a female virgin. Olfactive mechanisms are vital for behavioral specificity, which varies among different races. In primates, the developement of the neocortex is associated with the supremacy of social factors, but it is probable that similar neuroendocrinological mechanisms operate.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

The possible role of prolactin in the regulation of nesting behaviour and the secretion of luteinizing hormone in broody bantams.

The time spent each day on the nest and the rate of formation of the brood patch before the onset of incubation were measured in bantams (Gallus domesticus) and related to changes in the concentrations of plasma LH and prolactin. The hens spent progressively more time on the nest in the 5 days before the onset of incubation so that by the first day of incubation they were spending more than 90% of their time in this way. The concentration of plasma prolactin increased while that of LH fell on successive days before the onset of incubation: the increase in plasma prolactin preceded the fall in plasma LH by 2 days. The formation of the brood patch closely followed the increase in the concentration of plasma prolactin. In four out of five bantams the increase in nesting behavior was preceded by an increase in the secretion of prolactin. An injection of chicken prolactin antiserum into bantams incubating eggs resulted in a significant (P less than 0.05) increase in the plasma concentration of LH. The observations suggest that, in the bantam, the onset of incubation is initiated by an increase in the secretion of prolactin which also suppresses the secretion of LH.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Temporal characteristics and incidence of photorefractoriness in turkey hens.

We conducted experiments to determine the incidence and temporal components of photorefractoriness (PR) in first-year turkey breeder hens after photostimulation. In turkey hens, PR may be defined as a lack of responsiveness to photoperiods that previously induced or maintained egg production and is characterized by a spontaneous cessation of lay, usually followed by molt, as well as an absence of nesting behavior. In one experiment, groups of hens were photostimulated with 18 h of light (L):6 h darkness (D) for 12, 16, 19, or 22 wk and then were exposed to 13L:11D photoperiods to induce a change in egg laying that allowed an evaluation of the photoresponsive state of each group of hens. In two other experiments individual hens were photostimulated continuously with 16L:8D for 24 or 45 wk, and the onset of PR was evaluated by the spontaneous cessation of lay. Data were collected for time to onset of PR, percentage incidence, duration of PR, and the time required for the transition from the photosensitive to the PR state. The earliest onset of PR occurred 7 wk after photostimulation, and the mean onset occurred at about 18 wk of photostimulation. Hens that expressed PR did so within an 18-wk period ending at 25 wk of photostimulation, but not all of these first-year hens expressed PR. Incidence of PR was variable at 59 and 89% in Experiments 2 and 3, respectively. The transition from a photosensitive state to an overt PR state, and therefore a laying to nonlaying state, occurred abruptly within a 2-wk period. Photorefractoriness was permanent during 45 wk of photostimulation for 11% of the PR hens. In the remaining 89% of hens, PR persisted for at least 14 wk (mean of 20.0+/-0.9) but it was not permanent, because they subsequently spontaneously recrudesced. That is, they spontaneously terminated PR. It was concluded that most, but not all, first-year turkey hens become PR and that the incidence is highly variable; PR may be relative or absolute, and absolute PR occurs abruptly but with a highly variable onset time. In most hens, PR is not permanent.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Nest temperature: effects on maternal behavior, pup development, and interactions with handling.

These studies compared the patterns of mother-young contact under different thermal environments and assessed the implications of the differing patterns of contact for pup development and the dam's behavior. In the first experiment, the warm surface dramatically reduced the total amount of contact time between dams and litters and the dam's food intake, but the effects on the pups were limited to smaller adrenal glands. A replication of the first experiment in which daily weighing and handling of the pups was eliminated produced no differences in development. In a third experiment, during which dams had access to a warm surface outside of the next area and the daily weighing and handling was resumed, the pups showed smaller adrenal glands, lower body temperatures and less thermoregulatory ability. A comparison of results suggests that handling increased the weight of adrenal glands of pups reared under the unmanipulated condition, but not the warm-rearing condition.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗
PubMed2002

The nest as fortress: defensive behavior of Polybia emaciata, a mud-nesting eusocial wasp.

The swarm-founding wasp Polybia emaciata is unusual among eusocial Vespidae because it uses mud, rather than wood pulp, as its primary nest construction material. Polybia emaciata nests are more durable than similarly sized paper nests. We tested the hypothesis that the defensive behavior of this wasp may have been modified to take advantage of their strong nests in defense against vertebrate attacks. We simulated vertebrate disturbances by tapping on, and breathing in, P. emaciata nests and similarly sized P. occidentalis paper nests in the same location at the same time. Polybia emaciata responses to disturbance were qualitatively different from those of P. occidentalis. The latter exit the nest and attack, while P. emaciata workers typically fled or entered the nest, attacking only after repeated and extended disturbances. We conclude that durable nest material may permit predator avoidance behavior in P. emaciata. We compare the defensive responses of P. emaciata workers with those of other swarm-founding Vespidae, and discuss several selective forces that could cause the evolution of species variation in nest defense behavior.

Agonistic Behavior↗
PubMed2004

Regulation of ischemic cell death by the lipoic acid-palladium complex, Poly MVA, in gerbils.

Modulation of ischemic cell death can be accomplished via a multitude of mechanisms, such as quenching radical species, providing alternative energy sources, or altering glutamate excitation. Transient cerebral ischemia will induce apoptotic cell death selectively to hippocampal cornus ammon's field 1 of the hippocampus (CA1) pyramidal cells, while neighboring CA3 and dentate neurons are spared. Poly MVA is a dietary supplement based on the nontoxic chemotherapeutic lipoic acid-palladium complex (LAPd). LAPd is a liquid crystal that works in cancer cells by transferring excess electrons from membrane fatty acids to DNA via the mitochondria. Therefore, by its structural nature and action as a redox shuttle, it can both quench radicals as well as provide energy to the mitochondria. To understand the role of LAPd in regulating ischemic cell death, we studied Poly MVA. Male Mongolian gerbils were subjected to 5 min of bilateral carotid artery occlusion under a controlled temperature environment (37.0-38.0 degrees C). Animals were injected with physiological saline or either 30, 50, or 70 mg/kg of Poly MVA every 24 h beginning immediately after the occlusion until being sacrificed on experimental day 4. Damage was evaluated by analyzing nesting behavior and conducting blinded measures of viable CA1 lengths. All Poly MVA treatment dosages significantly (p < 0.05) reduced hippocampal CA1 damage by 72 h. Nesting scores were significantly improved after 30 and 50 mg/kg treatment but not 70 mg/kg. While nesting is usually a very accurate indicator of morphological damage, the 70 mg/kg-treated animals demonstrated excessive energy, thus ignoring the nesting material. While numerous routes offer varying degrees of CA1 neuronal survival after transient global ischemia, only the LAPd complex, which quenches radicals and provides energy to stabilize the mitochondria, offers such significant protection. Thus, the administration of Poly MVA may be a potent neuroprotective agent for victims of transient ischemic attack (TIA), cardiac arrest, anesthetic accidents, or drowning.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Gender effects on aggression, dominance rank, and affiliative behaviors in a flock of captive adult cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus).

Agonistic and affiliative behaviors and spatial positioning were studied in a small psittacine species, Nymphicus hollandicus. Subjects studied were flock-housed breeders including five hens and seven cocks. Fifteen-minute focal animal samples were collected for the entire flock in a randomly distributed order during mate selection and the onset of the breeding season. All agonistic behaviors were recorded, including the winner and loser of each interaction, along with allopreening and copulation behavior. Point samples were recorded every 60s to determine social spacing. Rates of aggression were significantly higher for male cockatiels than female cockatiels. Results based on dyadic agonistic interactions showed males to rank significantly higher in the social hierarchy than females. Associations within the flock were not random. Individual birds associated more with specific birds than would be predicted by chance. Analysis of spatial data revealed that there were both same-sex and opposite-sex preferred associations within the flock. Male cockatiels engaged in allopreening behavior with females significantly more than with other males. Observations of breeding and nesting behaviors revealed pairs, a triad, and extra-pair mating.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Nesting and digging behavior in three species of Calomys (Rodentia; Cricetidae).

Two sets of behaviors relevant for the construction of shelters, nest building and digging, were studied in three con-generic species of South American cricetid rodents. Significant differences were observed among the three species in both sets of behaviors, but not between sexes within the same species. Calomys musculinus built the largest nests, C. laucha showed the highest number of digging bouts and the shortest digging latency, and C. venustus scored low in both nesting and digging behaviors. In general, these observations are consistent with the few, anecdotal records of the shelters used by these species in the field. The low nesting and digging scores of C. venustus are correlated with that species' low thermal conductance, but the marked differences in the nesting and digging scores of C. musculinus and C. laucha cannot be accounted for by differences in their basal metabolic rates or thermal conductances.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Evolution of passerine incubation behavior: influence of food, temperature, and nest predation.

Incubation behavior is one component of reproductive effort and thus influences the evolution of life-history strategies. We examined the relative importance of body mass, frequency of mate feeding, food, nest predation, and ambient temperature to explain interspecific variation in incubation behavior (nest attentiveness, on- and off-bout durations, and nest trips per hour) using comparative analyses for North American passerines in which only females incubate. Body mass and frequency of mate feeding explained little variation in incubation behavior. We were also unable to detect any influence of foot; diet and foraging strategy explained little interspecific variation in incubation behavior. However, the typical temperature encountered during reproduction explained significant variation in incubation behavior: Species breeding in colder environments take shorter bouts off the nest, which prevents eggs from cooling to temperatures below the physiological zero temperature. These species must compensate for shorter off-bouts by taking more of them (thus shorter on-bouts) to obtain needed energy for incubation. Nest predation also explains significant variation in incubation behavior among passerines: Species that endure high nest predation have evolved an incubation strategy (long on- and off-bouts) that minimizes activity that could attract predators. Nest substrate explained additional variation in incubation behavior (cavity-nesting birds have shorter on-bouts and make more frequent nest trips), presumably because nest predation and/or temperature varies among nest substrates. Thus, nest predation can influence reproductive effort in a way previously not demonstrated--by placing a constraint on parental activity at the nest. Incubating birds face an ecological cost associated with reproductive effort (predation of entire brood) that should be considered in future attempts to explain avian life-history evolution.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1984

Effect of ambient temperature on serum prolactin and luteinizing hormone levels during the reproductive life cycle of the female turkey (Meleagris gallopavo).

An ambient temperature of 30 degrees C compared to 18 degrees C accelerated the increase in serum prolactin (Prl) level induced by photostimulation of female turkeys. The contribution of reproductive stage and nesting behavior to this serum Prl elevation was assessed by housing adult female turkeys in individual wire cages while allowing other females free access to nests on the floor. Birds of both groups were exposed to 10 degrees C, 24 degrees C or 30 degrees C beginning 4 wk prior to photostimulation and continuing throughout the reproductive phase. Lapsed time between the onset of photostimulation and onset of sexual maturity, and between the onset of sexual maturity and onset of incubation behavior was shorter in birds housed at 30 degrees C with access to nests than in corresponding birds housed at 24 degrees C and 10 degrees C. The increases in serum Prl associated with sexual maturity or incubation behavior occurred at a greater rate in the birds maintained at 30 degrees C. Cage-reared birds had the same lapsed time between onset of photostimulation and onset of sexual maturity and the same sustained low Prl level regardless of ambient temperature exposure. All groups exhibited similar luteinizing hormone profiles. These findings indicate that the accelerated increase in Prl under elevated temperature in floor-reared turkeys is related to accelerated development of reproductive function, and not the direct effect of ambient temperature on mechanisms controlling Prl.

Animals↗