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At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Prenatal stress disrupts reproductive behavior and physiology in offspring.

Prenatal maternal stress has been related to neonatal activity and irritability in both lower animals and humans in documented research for at least the past 30 years. Contemporary animal research demonstrates that prenatal stress feminizes and demasculinizes the sexual behavior of males and reduces fertility and fecundity in females, producing estrous cycle disorders, spontaneous abortions, or vaginal hemorrhaging and high neonatal mortality. Mechanisms of stress are being sought in the maternal-fetal blood exchange, hormonal alterations in the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonads and adrenals, and in brain catecholamines. Contemporary human research demonstrates that negative maternal attitudes toward pregnancy are related to high incidences of congenital abnormalities and infant deaths. Severe psychosocial stress is related to high incidences of neonatal deaths and neurological impairments in infants, and a high incidence of psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Data derived from both animal and human research may help explain the etiology and mechanisms of prenatal-stress-induced reproductive dysfunctions as well as some forms of human psychopathology.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

The effects of an aromatization inhibitor on the reproductive behavior of male zebra finches.

Recent evidence indicates that aromatizable androgens are more effective than nonaromatizable androgens in restoring normal levels of sexual behavior in castrated male zebra finches (Poephila guttata). To determine whether the efficacy of treatment with aromatizable androgens, is in part due to their conversion to estrogens, castrated male finches were treated with androstenedione (AE), an aromatizable androgen, and their sexual and aggressive behavior was compared with that of castrates treated with AE plus 1,4,6-androstatriene-3,17-dione (ATD), an aromatization inhibitor. Males treated with AE + ATD showed less courtship activity and less copulatory behavior than AE-treated males, and were unlikely to have nests. Estradiol (E), when given concurrently with AE + ATD, reversed the inhibitory effects of ATD and restored levels of courtship and copulation to those observed in AE-treated males. Only AE- and AE + ATD + E-treated males displayed aggressive behaviors, but the frequency of such behaviors was so low that there were no significant differences across groups. These data affirm the importance of estrogen in the control of reproductive activities in male zebra finches and indicate that aromatization may be an obligatory step for maintaining normal levels of sexual and aggressive behavior.

Aggression↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of the posterior hypophysis and ovary on pheromonal production in normal females and in the reproductive behavior of male rats treated with D,L-propranolol.

Posterior hypophysis homogenates of female rats stimulated with epinephrine subcutaneously contain a pheromonal factor that increments significantly the incidence of fertile coitus after having been placed in the oronasal groove of rats in proestro (69.2% fertile coitus vs. 36.6% of control). These same homogenates obtained from spayed rats increment reproductive activity even more (80.0% fertile coitus). The homogenates do not act by an intraperitoneal route. Male rats under the effect of high doses of D,L-propranolol reduce reproductive activity (21.2% fertile coitus). This effect is counteracted by posterior hypophysis homogenates from female rats stimulated with epinephrine, placed in the oronasal groove (72.2% fertile coitus). The homogenates of anterior hypophysis do not increase the reproductive capacity of rats in proestro, and do not modify the propranolol effects in male rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Castration and reproductive behavior in the paradise fish, Macropodus opercularis (L.) (Osteichthyes: Belontiidae).

The effects of castration on male spawning behavior, nestbuilding and fertility were measured in a five day spawning trial with an intact female. Spawning and fertility decreased one week following castration while nestbuilding was unaffected. Sham operated males showed normal spawning and fertility. Two weeks postoperatively, fertility and spawning were increased paralleling partial regeneration of the testes. The antigonadotropin methallibure blocked testes regeneration and recovery of spawning in castrated males but it had no effect on reproductive functions of intact males. Spawning did not decrease in one-week castrated males which were administered testosterone enathanate. The results suggest that gonadal androgen facilitates sexual behavior in Macropodus.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[Effect of a static magnetic field (3.5 T) on the reproductive behavior of mice, on the embryo and fetal development and on selected hematologic parameters].

To investigate possibilities of magnetic resonance imaging at high magnetic fields in humans, a whole-body magnet with a magnetic field density of 4 T was developed. Due to the few data that are available at present on biological effects and side effects of such high fields, a reproduction experiment with NMRI mice was performed using a crossover design. The mice were allowed to mate during a 7-day period within the field or after their stay in the field. The number of pregnant mice and foetuses were recorded and compared to the controls. Another group was held within the magnetic field during the whole period of pregnancy until day 18, one day before delivery. In all groups, development of the foetuses was studied. Additionally, haematological parameters of the males and females were estimated and necroscopy was performed. Brains, lungs and optical nerves were investigated using pathohistological techniques. It could be shown that in case of mating within the magnetic field, the number of pregnant mice was considerably reduced. This effect was, however, completely reversible if mating occurred after the stay in the field. Malformations, retardations or an increased number of resorptions were never found. The haematological parameters were, in general, not changed. Necroscopy as well as pathohistological investigations showed no pathological alterations. Therefore, it appears that whereas high magnetic fields reduce the activity of mating behaviour, they do not exert any influence on physiological parameters.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Copulatory behavior, reproduction, and sperm competition in two strains of male rats.

Long-Evans males fathered 72% of the offspring when one Long-Evans and one F344 male mated repeatedly with the same female throughout her estrus. When each male was restricted to one ejaculation and the second male was allowed to begin mating immediately following the first male's ejaculation, the second male left more offspring in each strain. However, the proportion was significantly greater for Long-Evans males. In contrast, there were no strain differences in either number of pregnancies or litter size in noncompetitive matings limited to two ejaculations, the minimal number required to induce pregnancy. The only consistent behavioral differences were the greater number of intromissions performed with shorter latencies by F344 males, differences that cannot readily be used to explain their reduced success. It was hypothesized that the two strains may differ in the adequacy of penile reflexes used to form, set, or dislodge sperm plugs.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Body size, reproductive behavior, and fertility in three genetic lines of Japanese quail.

The influences of body size on early locomotor activity, intermale aggression, mating behavior, fertility, and hatchability were studied in three lines of Japanese quail. Lines P and C originated from the same base population with P selected for high 28-day body weight and C maintained as a randombred population. Line S was a randombred line unrelated to P and C. Line P quail were larger than both C and S quail, which were similar in size and had proportionally larger cloacal glands than those from the P line. The P and S males were more aggressive than C males. Although there was no difference among the three lines for number of attempted matings, C and S males completed more matings and had better mating efficiency and fertility than P males. The P females received more attempted matings than C and S females, but S females completed more matings, resulting in higher mating efficiency. Fertility tended to be lower in P females, while hatchability of fertile eggs was similar across all lines. The effect of body size on reproductive performance is discussed in the context of genetic homeostasis.

Animals↗