Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Reproductive Behavior”

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 793 records · Page 44Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Effects of olfactory cues on sexual behavior in the brown lemming, Lemmus trimucronatus.

Three groups of female lemmings were tested to determine the effects of odor familiarity on measures of reproductive behavior. A familiar odor (FO) group was exposed to the bedding of a particular male for 1 wk, then tested with that male. A second female group (unfamiliar odor; UO) was exposed to the bedding of a male for 1 wk, then tested with a different male. A third group (control; CO) was not exposed to male bedding prior to being tested with a male. The FO females engaged in higher frequencies of contact social behaviors than did UO and CO females. Males with FO females ejaculated more frequently than did the males with UO and CO females. Latencies to first display of sexual behaviors (female: lordosis; male: mount, thrust, and ejaculation) were lower for FO pairs. These results suggest that previous exposure of females to the odor of a given male facilitates sexual behaviors when such females are later paired with that male.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Long-term effects of prenatal morphine exposure on maternal behaviors differ from the effects of direct chronic morphine treatment.

Previous studies have demonstrated that chronic morphine treatment of pregnant rats alters maternal behavior. Other studies have shown long-term effects of prenatal exposure to morphine, including changes in reproductive behavior in adult females. The present study investigated the effects of prenatal morphine exposure on a variety of maternal behaviors such as nursing, maternal activities, nonmaternal activities, and pup retrieval. Prenatal morphine exposure increased active and decreased passive nursing. There were no differences in maternal activities such as presence in the nest, contact with pups, grooming of pups, and/or manipulation of nest shavings. In the retrieval test, prenatally morphine-exposed mothers were faster in carrying the first pup, retrieving the first pup back to the nest, and returning all pups to the nest than prenatally saline-exposed mothers. Maternal and nonmaternal activities also were affected by the light: dark cycle. All saline- and morphine-exposed mothers nursed more, were more often in the nest, and more often in contact with greater than half of their litter during the light than the dark sessions. On the other hand, nonmaternal activities increased during the dark sessions: Mothers cared for themselves (groomed, ate) more and displayed more rearing and sniffing. Mothers spent more time resting with their eyes closed during the light sessions regardless of prenatal drug exposure. The present study demonstrated that the effect of morphine on maternal behavior is different in adult exposed and prenatally exposed mothers. While direct morphine treatment impaired maternal behaviors, prenatal morphine exposure has the opposite effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Possible pheromone-carrier function of two lipocalin proteins in the vomeronasal organ.

We report the molecular cloning and characterization of two secretory proteins specifically expressed in vomeronasal and posterior glands of the nasal septum, the ducts of which open into the lumen of the vomeronasal organ. These two proteins are members of the lipocalin superfamily, consisting of hydrophobic ligand carriers. We immunohistochemically localized one of the proteins in the mucus covering the vomeronasal sensory epithelium, where the primary reception of pheromone takes place. The immunoreactivity on the vomeronasal sensory epithelium was evident in the neonatal and post-pubertal periods, when the close contact between animals plays critical roles in suckling and sexual behaviors, respectively. These results suggest that small lipophilic molecules stimulate the accessory olfactory system to regulate the reproductive behavior of mice.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

The human reproductive pattern and the changes in women's roles.

A broader evolutionary perspective and an understanding of our reproductive behavior in the context of a constantly changing society can contribute to the debate on breastfeeding and reproductive roles of both women and men. Breastfeeding is women's work and should be valued as such. Families and societies need to accept their share of the task of supporting women to breastfeed, to include favorable conditions at the workplace, adequate health care, better nutrition, and recognition of the woman's role and importance.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed2004

Exogenous vasotocin alters aggression during agonistic exchanges in male Amargosa River pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis amargosae).

Pupfishes in the Death Valley region have rapidly differentiated in social behaviors since their isolation in a series of desert streams, springs, and marshes less than 20,000 years ago. These habitats can show dramatic fluctuations in ecological conditions, and pupfish must cope with the changes by plastic physiological and behavioral responses. Recently, we showed differences among some Death Valley populations in brain expression of arginine vasotocin (AVT). As AVT regulates both hydromineral balance and social behaviors in other taxa, these population differences may indicate adaptive changes in osmoregulatory and/or behavioral processes. To test whether AVT is relevant for behavioral shifts in these fish, here we examined how manipulations to the AVT system affect agonistic and reproductive behaviors in Amargosa River pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis amargosae). We administered exogenous AVT (0.1, 1, and 10 microg/g body weight) and an AVP V1 receptor antagonist (Manning compound, 2.5 microg/g body weight) intraperitoneally to males in mixed-sex groups in the laboratory. We found that AVT reduced the initiation of aggressive social interactions with other pupfish but had no effect on courtship. The effects of AVT were confirmed in males in the wild where AVT (1 microg/g body weight) reduced the aggressive initiation of social interactions and decreased aggressive responses to the behavior of other males. Combined, these results show that AVT can modulate agonistic behaviors in male pupfish and support the idea that variation in AVT activity may underlie differences in aggression among Death Valley populations.

Aggression↗
PubMed2003

Response of ERalpha-IR and ERbeta-IR cells in the forebrain of female rats to mating stimuli.

Sexual behavior in female rats depends on the action of estradiol on estrogen receptors (ERs) found in particular brain regions. While hormonal regulation of female sexual behavior requires ERalpha, the possible functions of ERbeta remain to be clarified. Mating stimulation has several behavioral and physiological consequences and induces Fos expression in many brain areas involved in the regulation of reproductive behavior and physiology. In addition, some cells in which mating induces Fos expression coexpress ERalpha. To determine whether cells in which Fos is induced by a particular mating stimulus coexpress ERalpha, ERbeta, or both, we used a triple-label immunofluorescent technique to visualize ERalpha-, ERbeta-, and mating-induced Fos-immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) in neurons in which mating stimulation reliably increases Fos expression. Ovariectomized, hormone-primed rats were either unmated, received 15 mounts, or received 15 intromissions. In the rostral medial preoptic area, Fos-ir was induced by mounts alone primarily in cells coexpressing ERalpha-ir, while Fos-ir was induced by intromissions mainly in cells coexpressing both ERalpha-ir and ERbeta-ir (ERalpha/ERbeta-ir). In the dorsal part of the posterodorsal medial amygdala, Fos-ir was induced by intromissions in cells coexpressing ERalpha-ir and ERalpha/ERbeta-ir. However, in the ventral part of the posterodorsal medial amygdala, Fos-ir was induced by intromissions primarily in cells coexpressing only ERbeta-ir. These data suggest that qualitatively different sexual stimuli may be integrated through distinct ER-containing circuits in the rostral medial preoptic area and posterodorsal medial amygdala. The diversity in coexpression of type of ER in cells in different brain areas after various mating stimuli suggests a role for both ERalpha and ERbeta in the integration of hormonal information and information related to mating stimuli.

Amygdala↗
PubMed2002

Prenatal stress produces deficits in socio-sexual behavior of cycling, but not hormone-primed, Long-Evans rats.

Prenatal stress (PNS) alters behavior of adult offspring in novel environments or in social interactions; variable effects of PNS on female reproductive behavior have been reported. Effects of exposure to restraint and lights for 45 min/day on Gestational Days 14-20 were examined on the motor and socio-sexual behavior of adult female offspring. In a novel arena, proestrous PNS rats displayed greater behavioral inhibition as indicated by significantly fewer beam breaks made in the horizontal crossing task compared to that of proestrous non-PNS rats. In a standard mating test, in which females are exposed to males in a relatively small space for a restricted time or number of sexual contacts, PNS females in proestrus were found to have significant decreases in the intensity of lordosis and in the number of solicitation behaviors that they directed towards the male compared to non-PNS rats. In a seminatural mating test, in which females can control the timing of the sexual contacts from the male, PNS females in proestrus engaged in significantly less pacing of their sexual contacts compared to that of the non-PNS females. When additional PNS and non-PNS rats were ovariectomized (ovx) and tested following hormone priming, behavioral differences were abrogated. PNS decreased motor behavior in a novel arena, lordosis intensity, and solicitation behavior in a standard mating paradigm, as well as adaptive, approach-avoidance behavior in a seminatural mating situation of endogenously cycling proestrous rats but not ovx, hormone-primed rats. Thus, hormone priming may override or mask effects of PNS on some aspects of socio-sexual behavior.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Oral (drinking water) two-generation reproductive toxicity study of dibromoacetic acid (DBA) in rats.

In a two-generation study of dibromoacetic acid (DBA), Crl SD rats (30 rats/sex/group/generation) were provided DBA in drinking water at 0 (reverse osmosis-deionized water), 50, 250, and 650 ppm (0, 4.4 to 11.6, 22.4 to 55.6, and 52.4 to 132.0 mg/kg/day, respectively; human intake approximates 0.1 microg/kg/day [0.0001 mg/kg/day]). Observations included viability, clinical signs, water and feed consumption, body and organ weights, histopathology, and reproductive parameters (mating, fertility, abortions, premature deliveries, durations of gestation, litter sizes, sex ratios and viabilities, maternal behaviors, reproductive organ weights, sperm parameters and implantation sites, sexual maturation). Histopathological evaluations were performed on at least 10 P and F1 rats/sex at 0 and 650 ppm (gross lesions, testes, intact epididymis; 10 F1 dams at 0, 250, and 650 ppm for primordial follicles). Developmental observations included implantations, pup numbers, sexes, viabilities, body weights, morphology, and reproductive performance. At 50 ppm and higher, both sexes and generations had increased absolute and relative liver and kidneys weights, and female rats in both generations had reduced absolute and relative adrenal weights; adrenal changes were probably associated with physiological changes in water balance. The livers and kidneys (10/sex/group/generation) had no histopathological changes. Other minimal effects at 50 ppm were reduced water consumption and a transient reduction in body weight. At 250 and 650 ppm, DBA reduced parental water consumption, body weight gains, body weights, feed consumption, and pup body weights. P and F1 generation male rats at 250 and 650 ppm had altered sperm production (retained step 19 spermatids in stages IX and X tubules sometimes associated with residual bodies) and some epididymal tubule changes (increased amounts of exfoliated spermatogenic cells/residual bodies in epididymal tubules, atrophy, and hypospermia), although inconsistently and at much lower incidences. Unilateral abnormalities of the epididymis (small or absent epididymis) at 650 ppm in four F1 generation male rats were considered reproductive tract malformations. The no-observable-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) and reproductive and developmental NOAELs for DBA were at least 50 ppm (4.5 to 11.6 mg/kg/day), 45,000 to 116,000 times the human adult exposure level. Reproductive and developmental effects did not occur in female rats exposed to DBA concentrations as high as 650 ppm. Based on the high multiples of human exposure required to produce effects in male rats, DBA should not be identified as a human reproductive or developmental risk.

Acetates↗
PubMed1994

Why the study of animal behavior is associated with the animal welfare issue.

Of the various disciplines within the animal sciences, the issue of animal welfare has been most closely associated with ethology, the study of animal behavior. Prior to the modern welfare movement, applied ethology was primarily involved in studies on feeding and reproductive behavior. The emphasis on freedom of movement and mental experiences in animal welfare resulted in the field of applied ethology developing its current welfare interests. During the past 30 yr, applied ethology has been used to gather appropriate information to develop alternate management systems that accommodate normal behavior. The issue of behavioral needs has been addressed and research interest in motivation has developed. Preference tests have been used for their traditional role of improving comfort and have been modified to assess motivation as well. We have used abnormal behaviors as indicators of poor welfare and are shifting our emphasis to causative factors of these behaviors. The emotional states and cognitive abilities of animals have been studied but will become an increasingly important component of behavior research into animal welfare in the future.

Animal Welfare↗
PubMed1992

The dissonance mutation at the no-on-transient-A locus of D. melanogaster: genetic control of courtship song and visual behaviors by a protein with putative RNA-binding motifs.

Genetic and molecular results are here presented revealing that the dissonance (diss) courtship song mutation is an allele of the no-on-transient-A (nonA) locus of Drosophila melanogaster. diss (now called nonAdiss) was originally isolated as a mutant with aberrant pulse song, although it was then noted to exhibit defects in responses to visual stimuli as well. The lack of transient spikes in the electroretinogram (ERG) and optomotor blindness associated with nonAdiss are shown to be similar to the visual abnormalities caused by the original nonA mutations. nonAdiss failed to complement either the ERG or optomotor defects associated with four other nonA mutations. However, all four of these nonA mutants--which were isolated on visual criteria alone--sang a normal courtship song. nonAdiss complemented at least three of the nonA mutations with regard to the singing phenotype, as assessed by a new method for temporal analysis of the male's pulse song. Both visual and song abnormalities caused by nonAdiss were rescued by P-element-mediated transformation with overlapping 11 and 16 kilobase (kb) fragments of genomic DNA (originally cloned from the nonA locus by Jones and Rubin, 1990). Analysis of behavioral phenotypes in transformed flies carrying mutagenized versions of the 11 kb genomic fragment (in a nonAdiss genomic background) localized the rescuing DNA to a region containing an open reading frame that encodes a polypeptide (NONA) with similarity to a family of RNA-binding proteins. Immunohistochemical determination of NONA's spatial and temporal expression revealed that it is localized to the nuclei of cells in many neural and non-neural tissues, at all stages of the life cycle after very early in development. Genetic connections between the control of two quite different behaviors--reproductive and visual--are discussed, along with precedences for generally expressed gene products playing roles in specific behaviors.

Alleles↗
PubMed2000

Sex, reproduction, and gynecological disease in young adults with a history of juvenile chronic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of chronic disease of childhood on aspects of reproduction in young adults with a history of juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA). METHODS: Demographic data, clinical features of JCA, previous medical treatment, reproductive events, contraception, wish for children, sexuality, and gynecological disease were evaluated by means of a questionnaire in 126 women and 35 men with JCA and their age matched healthy counterparts. RESULTS: Median age of patients and controls was 24 years. Median age at menarche was 13 years in female patients and controls. Female patients who shared characteristics of marital status with their healthy counterparts showed a similar attitude to sexual activity, contraception, wish for children, age at first child, and duration of lactation. Fertility was not impaired in JCA, but fecundity was significantly reduced. Also, pregnancy outcome was less successful in women with JCA, shown by a significantly increased rate of miscarriage. When analyzing the occurrence of gynecological disease, a higher proportion of patients had metrorrhagia, pelvic inflammatory disease, and surgery for ovarian cysts. Males with JCA had greater difficulties than both healthy males and female patients in establishing a permanent relationship to the opposite sex. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that a history of JCA in young men and women can influence several aspects of reproductive behavior and health. Health care providers counseling adolescents with JCA need to be aware of these problems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Ecdysteroid titer, ovary status, and dominance in adult worker and queen bumble bees (Bombus terrestris).

The role of ecdysteroids in the regulation of dominance and reproduction in social Hymenoptera is little explored. In the current study we compared ecdysteroid titers in hemolymph of individual queen and worker bumble bees (Bombus terrestris) that differ in their behavior, reproductive status and social environment. Egg-laying queens that head colonies and have ovaries exhibiting all stages of follicle development, had a higher ecdysteroid titer than virgin queens whose ovaries contained only follicles at initial stages. In workers, the relationship between ecdysteroid titers and follicle development appears to be more complex and to be influenced by the bee's social status and social environment. Shortly after emergence, young workers had only follicles at the initial stages of oogenesis and they exhibited a low ecdysteroid titer. No significant correlation was detected between ovary status and ecdysteroid titer in workers, with some workers showing activated ovaries but low ecdysteroid titers. However, at six days of age, a trend towards higher ecdysteroid titer was observed for workers in queenless groups, a condition characterized by rapid follicle development relative to queenright conditions. In these queenless groups, high social status was associated with high ecdysteroid titers. By contrast, in queenright workers ecdysteroid titers were low, even for bees with presumably high social status that had activated ovaries and were observed performing oviposition behavior. This study suggests that ecdysteroids are involved in regulation of reproduction in B. terrestris.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

GABA(A) receptor regulation of kyphotic nursing and female sexual behavior in the caudal ventrolateral periaqueductal gray of postpartum rats.

Bilateral lesions of the ventrolateral caudal periaqueductal gray inhibit lordosis and kyphosis, the postures of female sexual receptivity and maternal nursing that are characterized respectively by dorsoflexion and ventroflexion of the spinal column. These lesions also inhibit the solicitation behaviors that accompany lordosis, but they do not impair retrieval or licking of pups. We tested the hypothesis that reproductive behaviors affected by these lesions are tonically inhibited by activity of the GABA(A) receptor via site-specific manipulations of receptor activity. Rats were bilaterally implanted during pregnancy with guide cannulae aimed at the caudal periaqueductal gray and ovariectomized on day 1 postpartum. Microinfusions (0.25 microl/side) of saline or drug took place on days 5 and 7 postpartum into the dorsolateral column and on days 9 and 11 into the ventrolateral column. Five minutes post-infusion dams were reunited with their pups and their maternal behavior was observed for 30 min. Feminine sexual behaviors were evaluated post-weaning after another set of microinfusions in the ventrolateral caudal periaqueductal gray. Potential facilitation of kyphosis and lordosis was tested with the GABA(A) antagonist bicuculline (15 ng/side) during sub-threshold conditions, i.e., non-suckling pups or sub-threshold ovarian hormone dosages; potential inhibition of these postures was tested with the GABA(A) agonist muscimol (125 ng/side) during optimal conditions, i.e., suckling pups or supra-threshold ovarian hormone treatments. Dorsolateral drug manipulations were ineffective. In the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray bicuculline significantly increased and muscimol significantly decreased kyphosis, lordosis, and sexual solicitations compared with saline. Retrieval and licking of pups were not altered by GABA(A) manipulations. These findings suggest that the reproductive postures of female rats, lordosis and kyphosis, as well as sexual solicitations, are tonically inhibited by the neurotransmitter GABA within the ventrolateral caudal periaqueductal gray in the midbrain. In contrast, retrieval and licking of pups appear to be under separate neurochemical or neuroanatomical control, or both. Further, this tonic inhibition is likely relieved by excitatory somatosensory inputs to this site, from mounting and suckling respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Estimation of fertility and fitness in Huntington disease in New England.

The advent of presymptomatic and prenatal testing in Huntington disease (HD) may change the reproductive behavior of persons at risk for HD. In order to assess future change, an analysis of fertility and reproductive fitness was carried out on 999 affected and 2,253 unaffected offspring from 235 New England families. Ascertainment biases observed for persons born before 1910 and after 1929 reduced the sample to 250 HD cases and 201 unaffected sib controls born between 1910 and 1929. No increase in reproductive rate was found in HD-affected men compared to male control sibs. A small increase in fertility averaging 0.5 child was seen in HD-affected females compared to unaffected females, but this difference was not significant. The increase in mean number of children for HD females is accounted for in part by a small number of affected women who had very large families. No evidence was found to suggest that any increase in reproductive rate for affected persons was related to offspring being born after HD onset. The fitness of both HD-affected and unaffected females was not significantly different from that of the general population of Massachusetts.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Mitochondrial genome dynamics in plants and animals: convergent gene fusions of a MutS homologue.

Mitochondrial processes influence a broad spectrum of physiological and developmental events in higher eukaryotes, and their aberrant function can lead to several familiar disease phenotypes in mammals. In plants, mitochondrial genes directly influence pollen development and the occurrence of male sterility in natural plant populations. Likewise, in animal systems evidence accumulates to suggest important mitochondrial functions in spermatogenesis and reproduction. Here we present evidence for a convergent gene fusion involving a MutS-homologous gene functioning within the mitochondrion and designated Msh1. In only plants and soft corals, the MutS homologue has fused with a homing endonuclease sequence at the carboxy terminus of the protein. However, the endonuclease domains in the plants and the soft corals are members of different groups. In plants, Msh1 can influence mitochondrial genome organization and male sterility expression. Based on parallels in Msh1 gene structure shared by plants and corals, and their similarities in reproductive behavior, we postulate that this convergent gene fusion might have occurred in response to coincident adaptive pressures on reproduction.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed2005

Prenatal treatment with picrotoxin promotes heterotypical sexual behavioral and neurochemical changes in male rat offspring.

The effects of maternal prenatal exposure to picrotoxin (0.75 mg/kg S.C. days 16-19 of pregnancy) in male rat offspring were observed. Adult sexually experienced and inexperienced animals were evaluated for heterotypical sexual behavior, as well as the testosterone plasma levels and striatal neurotransmitters. In relation to sexual behavior and analysis of sexual organs, the results showed that animals treated with picrotoxin exhibited a more intense reproductive behavior, and this could be expressed by a significant decrease in the number of mounts and intromissions and increase in the numbers of ejaculation, showed that these males are most motivate for sexual behavior. Testosterone levels as well as weight for sexual organs did not differ from control group. The neurochemical analysis showed that picrotoxin did not alter DA, 5-HT, 5-HIAA and GABA in animals. The DOPAC/DA and HVA/DA relation showed that the treatment increased the DA system activity in animals sexually experienced, as well as promote a decrease in 5-HT/5-HIAA relation, that is known was an inhibitory neurotransmitter system, blockade a male sexual behavior. There are no alterations observed in GABA levels. It's could be explained by suggests that picrotoxin modification DA system activity through GABAergic system, permitting that DA system to be freely active and facilitate the heterotypical behavior of male rats. These results show that the maternal prenatal exposure to picrotoxin produced changes in the neurochemical and sexual behavior of the adult male rats. Also previous heterotypical experience leads to changes in biogenic amine concentrations in these animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Behavioral differences between male and female rats: effects of gonadal hormones on learning and memory.

The organizational, activational and reorganizational effects of gonadal hormones have been extensively investigated with respect to sexual, aggressive and maternal behavior. It has thus been established that manipulations of gonadal hormones during critical periods in development functionally affect reproductive behavior. The effects of gonadal hormones on nonreproductive behavior are not immediately obvious because of the fact that the behavioral effects of gonadal hormones on learning and memory have been investigated in a large number of unrelated experimental procedures. The present paper provides an organized overview of these different experimental procedures, summarizes the most important findings and discusses some of the variables which determine the effects of manipulations in gonadal hormones on learning and memory in male and female rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Inhibition of estrous behavior in rats by intrahypothalamic application of agents that disrupt nuclear binding of estrogen-receptor complexes.

This study tested the hypothesis that estrogen facilitation of reproductive behavior in female rats requires the binding of estrogen-receptor complexes to the genomic components of hypothalamic cell nuclei. Female rats were implanted stereotaxically with bilateral guide cannulae aimed at the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH). Animals were ovariectomized following recovery from the implant surgery and randomly assigned to receive one of four drug treatments: actinomycin-D, ethidium bromide, netropsin, or 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole. Each female received at least two tests for estrous behavior 48 hr after estrogen priming. On one test, drug-filled cannulae were lowered into the VMH 1 hr prior to a subcutaneous injection of 2-3 micrograms of estradiol benzoate (EB); on the other test blank cannulae were inserted 1 hr prior to EB treatment. Intracranial administration of all four compounds, which disrupt estrogen-receptor binding to hypothalamic nuclei, inhibited both the quantity and the quality of lordosis responses to systemic injections of EB. The results support the hypothesis that specific receptor interactions with the genome of hypothalamic cells mediate estrogen facilitation of estrous behavior in female rats.

Animals↗