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PubMed1992

Rapid transport of seminal immunoglobulin to distal parts of the female reproductive tract in rabbits.

Bucks immunized with the bacteriophage-cloning vector fd-tet display strong humoral seminal immunity of 1.5 x 10(6) fd-tet neutralizing units (nu) ml-1. We used this model to study the distribution of seminal immunoglobulin in the female reproductive tract after copulation and artificial insemination. In contrast to artificial insemination, significant (P < 0.01) amounts (147 nu ml-1, i.e. about 1.25 x 10(-4) input ejaculate) of neutralizing activity reached the uterus within 20 min of a single copulation, which is evidence for rapid transport of seminal plasma to distal parts of the tract. Oviducts were also quickly impregnated with antibodies to fd-tet, which persist in the distal compartments for at least 24 h.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Ovulation induction and gamete transport in the female tract of the musk shrew, Suncus murinus.

The musk shrew Suncus murinus was studied with regard to induction of ovulation, the genesis and role of the vaginal copulation plug, and the behaviour of gametes and embryos within the Fallopian tube. Ovulation occurred about 15 h after ejaculation, which required a mean of 5.2 (range 2-10) intromittent thrusts. Since ovulation occurred also after five thrusts without ejaculation, and after ejaculation without plug formation or sperm deposition, the primary stimulus for this seemed to be the thrust of the penis, the glans of which was covered by a dense field of spines. Neither vasectomized nor prostatectomized males formed a plug at ejaculation, and in the latter case the mean number of spermatozoa reaching the isthmus of the Fallopian tube, the number at the ampullary fertilization site and the rate of fertilisation were lower than in females mated to normal males. Thus both the vesicular gland on the vas deferens and the prostate are essential for formation of the copulation plug, which appears to enhance sperm transport within the female tract. At ejaculation, < or = 10(6) spermatozoa were incarcerated by the plug in the anterior vagina for 6-7 h, by which time a maximal population of several hundred had become established in posterior crypts of the isthmus of the Fallopian tube as small groups of free languidly moving spermatozoa. It remains to be established whether oviductal crypts in this and other shrews have a storage function for spermatozoa or sequester spermatozoa and so regulate the number that reach the fertilization site. Very few spermatozoa reached the ampulla of Suncus. Generally, only one or two spermatozoa had reached the ampulla by 4-5 h, and often less than ten had done so by 5-13 h after ovulation. As a probable correlate, few eggs were penetrated during the first 5 h, with a frequent delay of 10-13 h before most eggs were fertilized. Thereafter, unfertilized eggs were transported through the oviduct at the same rate as developing embryos, which entered the uterus about 85 h after ovulation at the 32-cell stage. There were highly significant differences between the larger KAT/SK strains and smaller OK strain with regard to Fallopian tube length (mean 6.9 mm versus 9.7 mm), as well as the rates of hCG-induced ovulation (5.6 versus 3.25) and of unilateral ovulation (6% versus 50%).

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Embryo implantation during the short luteal phase of the corn mouse, Calomys musculinus, and the apparent lack of a lactational diapause in South American murid rodents.

As the corn mouse, Calomys musculinus, has a short luteal phase (2-3 days) that is not prolonged after copulation, it was hypothesized that (i) implantation would occur at the end of this phase, that is, earlier than it occurs in most murid species that have been studied, and (ii) a lactational embryonic diapause would not occur during the luteal phase. These hypotheses were tested in females that had copulated during postpartum oestrus and were either lactating or not lactating. Data were recorded from day 3 to day 5 of pregnancy (day 1 = day after coitus), at both 03:00-05:00 h and 17:00-19:00 h. Evidence of implantation in both non-lactating and lactating animals was apparent at 03:00-05:00 h on day 4 (endometrial 'blue reaction' in all cases and failure to recover free uterine embryos in some cases) and implantation swellings appeared within 24 h in both groups. In another experiment, the increase in duration of interbirth intervals in continuously mated females and their correlation with the number of suckling young were compared among C. musculinus, C. laucha, Akodon molinae (South American murid species) and Peromyscus maniculatus (a North American murid in which a lactational embryonic diapause has been shown). The results were indicative of a lactational embryonic diapause in the North American species, but not in the South American species. It was concluded that in C. musculinus (i) implantation occurs at the end of the spontaneous luteal phase, and (ii) that a lactational embryonic diapause does not occur: the absence of a lactational embryonic diapause may be common to other South American murid rodents.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Study on the estrous cycle in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus).

The paucity of information and the unagreed consensus about the estrous cycle of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) have rendered such studies rather difficult. The estrous cycle of the Mongolian gerbils in this report were divided into 5 stages: Stage I, proestrus; Stage II, estrus (scattering); Stage III, estrus (gathering); Stage IV, metestrus and Stage V, diestrus. The normal estrous cycle in the Mongolian gerbils was 4-6 days long. In our experimental conditions, 67.9% of virgin females had a 4-6 day cycle, whereas 26.4% had an unsettled cycle and 5.7% assumed pseudopregnancy. The changing pattern of the estrous cycle and copulatory behavior of the Mongolian gerbils after hormone (PMSG: pregnant mare serum gonadotropin, 10 IU; hCG: human chorionic gonadotropin, 10 IU) injection were examined. The change in the estrous stage after hormone injection could be roughly classified into two types. The vaginal smear of virgin females injected with PMSG at Stage I, II or III changed to Stage V the next day and to Stage I or Stage II after 48 hr, but in the case of Stage IV or V, the smear changed to Stage I after 48 hr. The females injected with PMSG at Stage I, II or III copulated at from 13:00 to 23:00, whereas others injected at Stage IV or V scarcely copulated at all between 13:00 and 23:00. Mating of these females with the male midnight was not observed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reproductive behavior of Eidmanacris corumbatai Garcia (Orthoptera: Phalangopsidae).

Adult males of Eidmanacris corumbatai Garcia have reduced tegmina without stridulatory apparatus. For this reason, they developed other means ofintra-specific communication. During courtship, the males use a combination of foreleg drumming and waving of the antennae, in addition to chemical signaling through pheromones. The females become receptive to copulation when the males expose their metanotal gland. This gland, located on the male metanotum, is also a source of substances on which females feed before receiving the spermatophore. During copulation, the female destroys the apex of the metanotal gland to gain access to the secretion released by this structure.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Unassisted isolated-pair mating of Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes.

Female Anopheles mosquitoes usually mate only once, but mating is seldom seen in small containers containing only one female and male. Therefore, matings are often performed among many adults in large cages or by forced copulation. Isolated-pair mating of Anopheles gambiae G3 strain-derived mosquitoes without forced copulation in small vials is described. We observed that the experimental variables eye color and male number were significant factors in the mating frequency. Females mated more frequently when three males were present over only one male. White-eyed females were more likely to be mated than wild-eyed females, but wild males mated more frequently than did white-eyed males. Experiments were also conducted to determine when mating was occurring by using wild-eye-color mosquitoes in isolated pairs. Almost no matings were observed before day 6 rather than the frequencies typically observed after 1-2 d in standard large-cage matings among large numbers of adults.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Activity of the genital tract and plasma levels of oxytocin and cortisol at the time of mating in the ewe.

Experiments were conducted in the ewe to determine the effects of mating on the activity of the genital tract and on blood levels of oxytocin and cortisol. The activity of the uterus and cervix was recorded by electromyography, oxytocin was measured by radioimmunoassay, and cortisol by high performance liquid chromatography. Mating itself did not increase circulating oxytocin or cortisol; uterine motility remained unchanged during and after copulation but the cervix was significantly stimulated during teasing and after copulation. It is suggested that increased cervical activity resulting from adrenergic mechanisms may facilitate the generation of a cervical reserve of spermatozoa.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Mating behavior, insemination and sperm transfer in the ground beetle Carabus insulicola.

Mating behavior and the processes of insemination and sperm transfer in the ground beetle Carabus insulicola were analyzed. C. insulicola has elaborate genitalia, in which the strongly sclerotized male copulatory piece is inserted into the female vaginal appendix in copula. During mating, I observed pre-copulatory struggles of males and females, as well as delays in ejaculation, suggesting the presence of intersexual conflicts. Insemination was achieved with a spermatophore, which strongly adhered to the openings of the spermatheca, common oviduct, and vaginal appendix. The spermatophore dissolved after copulation, and sperm were transferred into the spermatheca within three hours after copulation. Sperm bundles were contained within the testes and spermatophores, but free spermatozoa were found in the spermatheca.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Male accessory gland secretory proteins in nasuta subgroup of Drosophila: synthetic activity of Acp.

The quantity of male accessory gland secretory proteins in relation to the number of cells in the gland, size of the gland and the duration of copulation has been studied in seven members of the nasuta subgroup of Drosophila. The study revealed that the difference in the quantity of secretions is independent of the number of secretory cells in the gland. However, a positive correlation exists between the quantity of secretions and size of the gland; while there is no correlation between the copulation duration and the quantity of secretions. Further, there is an increase in the values of all the parameters studied, with increasing distance of the species from the ancestor.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Studies on the establishment of appropriate spermatogenic endpoints for male fertility disturbance in rodent induced by drugs and chemicals. I. Nitrobenzene.

The effect of nitrobenzene on several spermatogenic endpoints was examined to determine which endpoints were affected by chemicals, how changes in spermatogenic endpoints are related to decreases in the rate of male fertility, and how long a treatment period is needed before damage can be detected. An experimental group of male Sprague-Dawley rats was given nitrobenzene (60 mg/kg, per os), a known inhibitor of male fertility, and a control group was given a diet of sesame oil (1 ml/kg, per os) alone. The rats were mated with normal proestrus females on days 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56 and 70 of treatment. Male rats were sacrificed on the day after mating, and sperm motility, progressive motility of sperm, sperm count and sperm morphology were examined. After 7 days of treatment, no changes were observed in the endpoints examined. However, the testicular and epididymal weights, sperm count, sperm motility and progressive motility decreased significantly by day 14. By day 21 sperm viability and the fertility index decreased, while increases were observed in the abnormal sperm rate and instances in which no motile sperm existed. However, even after 70 days of treatment, the copulation index was not affected. The most sensitive spermatogenic endpoints were determined to be sperm count and sperm motility, followed by progressive motility, viability, abnormal sperm rate and fertility index. The copulation index is not a meaningful endpoint for male fertility. Furthermore, a period of at least 14 days is necessary for evaluation of the effect of nitrobenzene on male fertility.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

The mechanism of the ejection of a frothy fluid from the cloaca in the male turkey.

The mechanism of the ejection of a frothy fluid from the "tissue at the vicinity of the papilla" (TVP) of the ductus deferens and triangular fold (TF) of the cloaca of the male turkey during natural copulation was investigated. Injection of Evans blue (T-1824) solution into the wing vein of the intact male led to the ejection, immediately after injection, of frothy fluid colored blue. Ligation of the A. pudenda interna decreased the volume of fluid to a negligible amount, and removal of the paracloacal vascular body (Corpus vasculare paracloacale) completely suppressed the tumescence of the copulatory organ and the flow of the fluid (lymph-like fluid). Evans blue solution, introduced into the A. pudenda interna of dissected cloacal specimens, exuded out from the TVP but not from the lymphatic folds (plicae lymphaticae). Injection of dye solution into the paracloacal vascular body elicited only the erection of the phallus, and none flowed out from the surface of the lymphatic folds. Also, no ejection of the injected dye solution into the A. pudenda interna was found in the dorsal wall of the cloaca, particularly from the TF. The results suggest that lymph generated in the paracloacal vascular body caused only the tumescence of the copulatory organ and a lymph generated in the TVP exuded through the surface epithelium. In addition, a foam (froth) is produced in the TF of the middorsal proctodeum during mounting behavior which appears to be added to the aforementioned lymph from the TVP at copulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Habitat and reproductive behavior of Trichinella spiralis.

The normal niche of Trichinella spiralis adults was found to be in the epithelial layer of the mucosa of the small intestine of its host. Most worms were found in the epithelium at the base of the villi and in the glandular crypts. Copulation and insemination occurred between 30 and 32 hr postinfection, all although these acts were never observed, it was concluded that copulation and insemination took place in the epithelial layer of the mucosa. A majority of the adults were found to be completely embedded in the epithelium during the deposition of the motile larvae. Motile larvae were deposited in this location and from there migrated through the stroma to venules and lymphatic vessels. Male T. spiralis were found to be capable of inseminating at least 4 females.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The function of female resistance behavior: intromission by male coercion vs. female cooperation in sepsis flies (Diptera: Sepsidae).

Female resistance behavior that occurs prior to intromission does not by itself imply forced copulation. Such behavior may function instead as a test of the male in order to favor some males over others, or to induce the male to desist. Thus, male persistence and forcefullness may sometimes be better described as persuasion rather than coercion. Under the persuasion hypothesis, the male only gains intromission due to an active response of the female. Under the coercion hypothesis, male and female are opposed in a physical battle which the female loses if copulation occurs. In species in which males are morphologically incapable of forcing intromission without active female cooperation (I argue here that this is probably a very common situation), data on the behavioral and ecological context in which resistance occurs can distinguish between the two possibilities. Partially congruent functions of resistance, seen from the female point of view, are female resistance to screen (male persuasion), and female resistance to avoid males non-selectively (male coercion). Sepsis flies illustrate these ideas. Females often struggle energetically in apparent attempts to dislodge mounted males and to prevent intromission, and males grasp females with powerful species-specific structures on their front legs and genitalia. This suggests the possibility of coerced intromission. But behavioral and morphological evidence demonstrate that active female cooperation occurs at the moment of intromission, and that males are probably dependent on this cooperation because they are not morphologically equipped to force their genitalia into those of an uncooperative female. Despite the impression from previous publications, male insects in general may seldom be able to achieve intromission by genitalic force. The species-specific forms of the grasping genitalia of male sepsis are probably not the result of an evolutionary arms race between coercive males and unselectively resistant females.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Activation of a subset of lumbar spinothalamic neurons after copulatory behavior in male but not female rats.

The precise pathways that convey copulation-related information to forebrain regions activated during male and female sexual behavior are poorly understood. Previous work from our laboratory and others has demonstrated the existence of a spinothalamic pathway that is a candidate to relay information to these areas. This pathway originates from a population of spinothalamic neurons in the lumbar spinal cord containing several neuropeptides including galanin, located in laminas 7 and 10 of the lumbar segments 3 and 4. To investigate the involvement of these lumbar spinothalamic neurons in conveying copulation-related information, we tested the hypothesis that these cells are activated after ejaculation in male rats and vaginocervical stimulation in female rats. This was assessed using galanin or cholecystokinin as a marker for this subset of spinothalamic neurons and Fos-immunoreactivity as a marker for neuronal activation. The results demonstrated that activation of these spinothalamic neurons is triggered by stimuli associated with ejaculation. Fos induction was specifically associated with ejaculation, because mounts or intromissions did not trigger expression. Moreover, these spinothalamic neurons were not activated by vaginocervical stimulation in female rats. Spinothalamic neurons have generally been associated with signaling pain and temperature information. The present findings demonstrate that a specific subpopulation of spinothalamic neurons signals information associated with ejaculation.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗
PubMed1977

Sexual behaviour of male rats rehabilitated after early protein-calorie malnutrition.

The effect of early protein-calorie malnutrition (from birth to the age of 55 days) followed by nutritional rehabilitation (from the 58th day) on sexual behaviour was studied in male rats aged about 125 days. The sexual stimulation conditions on the part of the oestrus female were made as optimal as possible and were fully controlled. About half the malnourished males displayed precopulatory and copulatory behaviour, while in the control group these values were almost 100%. When malnourished males copulated, their copulatory performance did not differ very greatly from that of the well-nourished controls. The other experimental males displayed no signs of sexual behaviour during the testing period. Exposure of the males to the scent of a female in the latter's absence greatly stimulated their interest in the odour (sniffing the floor of the experimental box) in both the control and the malnourished animals which afterwards copulated. The results indicate that the sexual behaviour of males subjected to protein-calorie deficiency in early ontogenesis is at the very least delayed, if not completely suppressed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1985

Penile responses of rats (Rattus norvegicus) in extended ex copula tests.

Prolonged tests of rats' penile responses outside the context of copulation (ex copula) were undertaken to facilitate analysis of these penile components of copulatory behavior. Penile erections and flips were evoked for 1 hr following penile sheath retraction (SR), and rats were retested for 30 min after a rest interval of 5 min to 4 hr. The number of penile responses declined sharply over the course of the hour. Following a 5-min rest, there was little likelihood of additional responses. Within 2 hr some measures of penile response potential approached their original high asymptotes; other measures were still depressed after 4-hr rest. In control tests, the penile sheath was unretracted (SU) during the first 60 min, and hence few or no penile responses occurred. This condition caused no reduction in the number of erections and flips in the subsequent 30-min SR test; hence the reduction in response potential during and after SR tests was due to the responses displayed, not to the conditions of restraint. Ejaculation occurred frequently in the SU condition but rarely in SR tests, results suggesting that sheath retraction may normally inhibit ejaculation in ex copula tests, and perhaps during copulation as well.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Receptivity of female rats.

Receptivity of female rats has been investigated under chronic experimental conditions. A receptivity index has been worked out for quantitative evaluation. It proved suitable for disclosing stimulatory (2.5 mg noretynodrel, oestradiol propionate) as well as inhibitory (etynodiol diacetate) effects. 2.5 mg noretynodrel has a biphasic effect; causing an inhibition and later an increase in receptivity. Receptivity of untreated female rats is low and can be increased by various steroids; the best treatment was 50 micrograms oestradiol monopropionate administered twice weekly, but this resulted in an inverse mating reaction, with frequent copulations in every phase of the cycle. In untreated females the number of copulations varied widely. Previous deliveries did not influence receptivity and frigidity was also observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

[Experimental reflex ovulation].

The effect of mating on ovulation and follicular maturation along the ovarian cycles were studied in the rat. The number and size of follicles and the number of ovules in the Fallopian tube were estimated. When the copulation took place between 16 hour of the diestrus and 16 hour of the proestrus phase, a significant increase in the number of large follicles and total follicles was found on the other hand, between 10 hour of the proestrus and 10 hour of the estrus phase, the number of ovules, small follicles and total follicles increased significantly. Thus, the copulation appeared to facilitate the follicular development and ovulation.

Animals↗