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PubMed1986

Behavior problems of equids in zoos.

Behavior problems in zoo equids commonly result from a failure to provide for needs basic to equine nature. Equids are gregarious, and failure to provide companions may result in pacing. Wild equids spend 60 to 70 per cent of their time grazing, and failure to provide ad libitum roughage contributes to the problems of pacing, cribbing, wood chewing, and coprophagia. Mimicking the normal processes of juvenile dispersal, bachelor-herd formation, and mate acquisition reduces the likelihood of agonistic and reproductive behavior problems. Infanticide can be avoided by introducing new stallions to herds containing only nonpregnant mares and older foals.

Aerophagy↗
PubMed1993

Developmental and reproductive toxicity of dioxins and related compounds: cross-species comparisons.

Developmental toxicity to TCDD-like congeners in fish, birds, and mammals, and reproductive toxicity in mammals are reviewed. In fish and bird species, the developmental lesions observed are species dependent, but any given species responds similarly to different TCDD-like congeners. Developmental toxicity in fish resembles "blue sac disease," whereas structural malformations can occur in at least one bird species. In mammals, developmental toxicity includes decreased growth, structural malformations, functional alterations, and prenatal mortality. At relatively low exposure levels, structural malformations are not common in mammalian species. In contrast, functional alterations are the most sensitive signs of developmental toxicity. These include effects on the male reproductive system and male reproductive behavior in rats, and neurobehavioral effects in monkeys. Human infants exposed during the Yusho and Yu-Cheng episodes, and monkeys and mice exposed perinatally to TCDD developed an ectodermal dysplasia syndrome that includes toxicity to the skin and teeth. Toxicity to the central nervous system in monkey and human infants is a potential part of the ectodermal dysplasia syndrome. Decreases in spermatogenesis and the ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term are the most sensitive signs of reproductive toxicity in male and female mammals, respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Putative steroidal pheromones in the round goby, Neogobius melanostomus: olfactory and behavioral responses.

To identify potential hormonal pheromones of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), a species recently introduced to the Great Lakes, we used electro-olfactogram (EOG) recording to examine olfactory responsiveness to more than 100 steroids and prostaglandins. Neogobius detected free and conjugated 18-, 19- and 21-carbon steroids, but did not detect prostaglandins. EOG cross-adaptation, used to determine if Neogobius can discriminate the detected compounds at the sensory level, suggested that the detected steroids act on four classes of olfactory receptor mechanisms named (according to the most potent ligand for each): estrone, 17 beta-estradiol-3 beta-glucuronide, etiocholanolone, and dehydroepiandrosterone-3-sulfate. Although none of the detected steroids induced reproductive behaviors, exposure to steroids from three of the four receptor classes (estrone, 17 beta-estradiol-3 beta-glucuronide, or etiocholanolone) increased ventilation rate in males, whereas only etiocholanolone increased ventilation rate in females. Using the ventilation increase as a behavioral bioassay of steroid detection, behavioral cross-adaptation studies in males demonstrated that steroids discriminated at the sensory level are also discriminated behaviorally. These findings suggest the round goby may use steroids as putative pheromones.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Genetic structure of the blue ridge dusky salamander (Desmognathus orestes): inferences from allozymes, mitochondrial dna, and behavior.

The plethodontid salamander Desmognathus orestes, a member of the D. ochrophaeus species complex, is distributed in southwestern Virginia, eastern Tennessee, and western North Carolina. Previous allozyme analyses indicate that D. orestes consists of two distinct groups of populations (D. orestes 'B' and D. orestes 'C') with extensive intergradation and probable gene flow between these two groups. Spatially varying allele frequencies can reflect historical associations, current gene flow, or a combination of population-level processes. To differentiate among these processes, we use multiple markers to further characterize divergence among populations of D. orestes and assess the degree of intergradation between D. orestes 'B' and D. orestes 'C', specifically investigating variation in allozymes, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and reproductive behavior among populations. On a broad scale, the mtDNA genealogies reconstruct haplotype clades that correspond to the species identified from previous allozyme analyses. However, at a finer geographic scale, the distributions of the allozyme and mtDNA markers for D. orestes 'B' and D. orestes 'C' are discordant. MtDNA haplotypes corresponding to D. orestes 'B' are more broadly distributed across western North Carolina than predicted by allozyme data, and the region of intergradation with D. orestes 'C' indicates asymmetric gene flow of these markers. Asymmetric mating may contribute to observed discordance in nuclear versus cytoplasmic markers. Results support describing D. orestes as a single species and emphasize the importance of using multiple markers to examine fine-scale patterns and elucidate evolutionary processes affecting gene flow when making species-level taxonomic decisions.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Behavioral, physiologic, and habitat influences on the dynamics of Puumala virus infection in bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus).

Populations of bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) were monitored during a 4-year study in southern Belgium to assess the influence of agonistic behavior, reproductive status, mobility, and distribution of the rodents on the dynamics of Puumala virus (abbreviation: PUUV; genus: Hantavirus) infection. Concordance was high between data from serologic testing and results of viral RNA detection. Wounds resulting from biting or scratching were observed mainly in adult rodents. Hantavirus infection in adults was associated with wounds in the fall, i.e., at the end of the breeding season, but not in spring. In addition, sexually active animals were significantly more often wounded and positive for infection. Hantavirus infection was associated with higher mobility in juvenile and subadult males. Seroconversions observed 6 months apart also occurred more frequently in animals that had moved longer distances from their original capture point. During nonepidemic years, the distribution of infection was patchy, and positive foci were mainly located in dense ground vegetation.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2001

TTF-1, a homeodomain gene required for diencephalic morphogenesis, is postnatally expressed in the neuroendocrine brain in a developmentally regulated and cell-specific fashion.

TTF-1 is a member of the Nkx family of homeodomain genes required for morphogenesis of the hypothalamus. Whether TTF-1, or other Nkx genes, contributes to regulating differentiated hypothalamic functions is not known. We now report that postnatal hypothalamic TTF-1 expression is developmentally regulated and associated with the neuroendocrine process of female sexual development. Lesions of the hypothalamus that cause sexual precocity transiently activate neuronal TTF-1 expression near the lesion site. In intact animals, hypothalamic TTF-1 mRNA content also increases transiently, preceding the initiation of puberty. Postnatal expression of the TTF-1 gene was limited to subsets of hypothalamic neurons, including LHRH neurons, which control sexual maturation, and preproenkephalinergic neurons of the lateroventromedial nucleus of the basal hypothalamus, which restrain sexual maturation and facilitate reproductive behavior. TTF-1 mRNA was also detected in astrocytes of the median eminence and ependymal/subependymal cells of the third ventricle, where it colocalized with erbB-2, a receptor involved in facilitating sexual development. TTF-1 binds to and transactivates the erbB-2 and LHRH promoters, but represses transcription of the preproenkephalin gene. The singular increase in hypothalamic TTF-1 gene expression that precedes the initiation of puberty, its highly specific pattern of cellular expression, and its transcriptional actions on genes directly involved in neuroendocrine reproductive regulation suggest that TTF-1 may represent one of the controlling factors that set in motion early events underlying the central activation of mammalian puberty.

Aging↗
PubMed2003

Three gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal groups with special reference to teleosts.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a decapeptide, which has been isolated from the hypothalamus as a releasing hormone of gonadotropins from the pituitary. However, subsequent morphological studies have demonstrated the presence of multiple GnRH neuronal groups outside the hypothalamus and preoptic area. In most vertebrate lineages studied to date, GnRH neuronal groups are present along the terminal nerve and in the midbrain tegmentum, in addition to a population in the preoptico-hypothalamic areas. The presence of GnRH fibers in extrahypothalamic areas has also been demonstrated, indicating a significance for GnRH neurons in functions other than those that are purely hypophysiotropic. Among vertebrate lineages, GnRH neurons have been most extensively studied in teleost fish through morphological, electrophysiological, behavioral and molecular approaches. To date, studies on differential roles of GnRH neuronal groups have been mostly restricted to teleosts. In the present review, the anatomy and functions of each GnRH neuronal group are reconsidered, based mainly on knowledge from teleosts. Recent findings in teleosts indicate that the preoptico-hypothalamic GnRH neurons are hypophysiotropic and that GnRH neurons of the terminal nerve and midbrain tegmentum regulate neural activities in various regions, including extrahypothalamic areas. The latter populations presumably serve as neuromodulatory systems to control aspects of neural functions such as reproductive behavior. Similar functional differentiation may be generalized to other vertebrate lineages as well.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Dopamine requires the unoccupied progesterone receptor to induce sexual behavior in mice.

Using the recently generated mutant mice strain (PRKO) carrying a null mutation for the progesterone receptor (PR) gene by gene targeting, we examined the critical role of PR as a coordinator of key regulatory events involved in the steroid hormone and dopamine-facilitated sexual behavior in female mice. In vitro one-point binding analyses of estradiol benzoate (EB)-induced cellular PRs and immunohistochemistry of PR in the mediobasal hypothalamus demonstrated a reduction in binding in the homozygous females, equivalent to background levels seen in EB-unresponsive tissue. The biochemical findings correlated well with the behavioral observations, with the wild type females exhibiting high levels of lordosis, while the homozygous females showed minimal lordosis in response to mating by male mice. As a critical validation of our earlier studies on ligand-independent activation of PRs by dopamine, we examined the facilitation of sexual behavior by a dopamine agonist in the null mutants. Wild type females having the full complement of PRs exhibited high levels of lordosis, while the homozygous females showed minimal lordosis in response to dopamine. To determine whether this reduced response was due to a general lack of ability to express lordosis, mice were treated with another neurotransmitter, serotonin. No significant difference in the serotonin-facilitated lordosis response was observed between the wild type and the homozygous females. We conclude that multiple signal transduction pathways coexist in the neuroendocrine system for reproductive behavior, with PR acting as a transcriptional mediator for dopamine, as well as progesterone, to achieve integration of neural communication in the central nervous system.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

The influence of the birth of a malformed child on the mother's further reproduction.

Births which occurred in Birmingham in 1964-70 were assembled into fraternities by computer linkage. By calculating the frequency with which one birth was followed by another and the interval between births the reproductive behavior of mothers after the birth of a malformed child was compared with that of all mothers, taking account of differences in maternal age, parity, and period of observation. It was found that malformations which resulted in stillbirth or early death were more frequently followed by another birth and that the interval to the following birth was shorter than usual. In this respect malformations did not differ in their effect from other causes of stillbirth and infant death. The birth of children were severe malformations who survived, however, acted as a slight deterrent to further reproduction. The malformation rate among children born after a malformation was double the usual rate; the recurrence rate was particularly high for neural tube defects, 5% of subsequent children being affected. In spite of this parents of children with central nervous system malformations were not deterred from further reproduction unless the affected child survived.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Personal experiences of cystic fibrosis (CF) carrier couples prospectively identified in CF families.

This qualitative study explores the experiences of cystic fibrosis (CF) carrier couples, prospectively identified in CF families, and the impact of the resulting genetic risk on reproductive behavior. Of the 12 couples identified until 1997, seven couples participated in semistructured interviews and two couples filled in a questionnaire, two to eight years after receipt of the test-results. After receiving the results, most couples reported that they were shocked, because they did not expect to both be carriers. More anxiety was expressed by those who were pregnant (n = 4) at the time of testing. There were reported difficulties in disclosing the results to family members, and the reactions of family members were not always supportive. After testing, some couples had problems with reproductive decision-making. All viable pregnancies (17 in 8 couples) were monitored by prenatal diagnosis; all affected pregnancies were terminated (6 in 4 couples). Couples who have live-born children after testing may subsequently have concerns during infancy about the correctness of the results of prenatal diagnosis and how to inform their children. Most couples did not regret the testing and, in general, the counseling was experienced positively, although some dissatisfaction was reported with regard to the psychological support received during pregnancy. Couples supported the idea of carrier screening in the general population, although various concerns were expressed. The results indicate a preference for testing before pregnancy. These findings may be useful in investigating possible dilemmas caused by the introduction of population carrier screening. Observations reported here might also apply to other recessively inherited disorders.

Cystic Fibrosis↗
PubMed2000

Effects of testosterone on pelvic autonomic pathways: progress and pitfalls.

Testosterone has potent effects on reproductive behavior, many of which are due to actions on brain nuclei and spinal motoneurons controlling perineal muscles. The autonomic circuits involved in penile erection, ejaculation and emission, have been less commonly considered as targets for circulating androgens. This review demonstrates that many components of pelvic autonomic reflex pathways, including preganglionic neurons, autonomic ganglion cells and primary afferent neurons, are likely to be influenced by testosterone. The steroid appears to play an important role in maintaining neuronal morphology, transmitter synthesis and receptor expression throughout adulthood. Surprisingly, the effects of testosterone are not limited to neurons involved in reproductive reflexes. The challenge is now to determine the range of neuronal features influenced by androgens, and the mechanisms by which these occur. Studies of androgen receptor location indicate that in many autonomic neurons gene expression may be directly influenced by androgens, but a mismatch between receptor distribution and androgen action shows that in some cells other mechanisms must exist. It is also possible that androgens are metabolised to estrogens by some peripheral neurons. Irrespective of the mechanism, it is time to acknowledge that testosterone is an important "maintenance factor" for autonomic neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Representational guidance of action production in observational learning: a causal analysis.

This experiment tested the hypothesis that the number of model presentations and verbal coding of modeled actions affect reproduction accuracy through their effect on cognitive representation. Subjects viewed a complex action pattern either two or eight times with or without verbal coding to highlight the dynamic structure of the component actions and their temporal sequencing. They then received, in order, a recognition test and a pictorial-arrangement test to assess the accuracy of their cognitive representations of the modeled actions. Subsequently, all subjects were tested for their ability to reproduce the action pattern from memory. Results showed that increased exposure to modeled actions enhanced the accuracy of both the cognitive representation and the behavioral reproduction. Verbal coding also increased cognitive and reproduction accuracy, but only when combined with multiple opportunities to observe the modeled actions. A causal analysis confirmed that the effects of multiple exposures and verbal coding were entirely mediated by changes produced in the accuracy of cognitive representation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Immunocytochemical localization of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone within the olfactory bulb of pigs.

LHRH was immunocytochemically localized within the olfactory bulb of prepubertal (n = 3), ovariectomized (n = 3), and hypophyseal-stalk-transected (HST) female pigs (n = 3). Perikarya of LHRH-immunoreactive neurons of all pigs were sparsely distributed mostly in the rostral half of the olfactory bulb, along the ventromedial and ventrolateral edge of the olfactory nerve layer, or at its interace with the glomerular layer. Processes from these cells and other LHRH containing axons either entered individual glomeruli forming a network within its interior or coursed around glomeruli penetrating into the external granular layers. Additional fibers penetrated into similar regions of the accessory olfactory bulb. Irregularly shaped perikarya were also detected within the internal granular layer of the ventral olfactory bulb, but only in tissue from HST pigs. From analysis of serial sections, there was no evidence of LHRH projections across the olfactory peduncle that connects the olfactory bulb with adjacent brain regions. If olfactory LHRH neurons are involved in reproductive behavior and physiology in the pig, this pathway involves additional unidentified intervening neurons. Endocrine factors probably influence the expression of immunoreactive LHRH in the internal granule layer, since their presence was revealed only in HST pigs.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Estrogen influences on oxytocin mRNA expression in preoptic and anterior hypothalamic regions studied by in situ hybridization.

Possible estrogen influences on oxytocin mRNA expression were studied in preoptic and anterior hypothalamic regions as might be important for behavioral as well as neuroendocrine controls. In situ hybridization for oxytocin mRNA determination was supported by immunocytochemical identification and was compared with vasopressin mRNA in situ hybridization. With these techniques, oxytocin-expressing neurons were identified in medial preoptic, anterior commissural, periventricular, paraventricular, supraoptic, and perifornical nuclei as well as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and intersupraopticoparaventricular (internuclear) islands. Distribution and number of oxytocin mRNA-containing neurons and oxytocin mRNA levels were compared between ovariectomized control rats given cholesterol implants and ovariectomized rats given short-term (2 days) or long-term (2 months) estradiol treatment (10% estradiol, subcutaneous silastic implants). Effectiveness of long-term estrogen treatment was confirmed behaviorally. While there was a trend in several cell groups for a larger number of oxytocin-mRNA-containing neurons to be observed following 2 days of estrogen treatment, this was not statistically significant. Moreover, additional oxytocin-mRNA containing cell groups were not seen after short or long estradiol treatment. With computer-aided analysis, mean pixels per oxytocin-mRNA expressing neuron (reflecting oxytocin mRNA content) were compared between groups: In the supraoptic nucleus and the anterior commissural nucleus, these were increased both by 2 days and 2 months of estradiol treatment. These differences may be important in modulating female reproductive behavior. Present findings also suggest that estradiol can affect the oxytocinergic system via an indirect route since the cell groups influenced here by estradiol do not contain estrogen receptors. Oxytocinergic neurons may serve as a good system to compare direct transcriptional with indirect effects of hormones.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

[Reproductive activity of Strombus gigas (Mesogasteropoda: Strombidae) in differente habitats of Alacranes reef, Yucatán].

The spawning relationships with temperature/photoperiod of Strombus gigas were investigated considering three habitats in Alacranes Reef, Yucatan, between February 1999 and March 2000. The sites were 22 degrees 34'N, 89 degrees 42'W (site 1); 22 degrees 29'N, 89"45'W (site 2) and 22 degrees 22'N, 89 degrees 39'W (site 3). At each site, transects (100 m x 10 m) were done. Different kinds of reproductive behavior of S. gigas was observed: such as copulating and egg-laying. Individuals alone and egg masses were registered as well. The S. gigas shell length and lip thickness were measured. High density of adults was found at site 2 with 87 conchs in one transect of 1000 m2. The mean density per m2 was 0.004 for site 1; 0.035 for site 2; and 0.003 for site 3. The mean shell length was 220 mm and the lip thickness mean was 16 mm (N = 783) for all sites. In February 1999 egg-laying female was found on sand. There was a high reproductive activity at site 2 with 8 egg-laying and 18 egg masses. Minimum reproductive activity was found at site 3 with 2 egg masses. The bottom-water temperature was related positively with copulating pairs (r = 0.723, f = 11.05, p < 0.01) and egg masses (r = 0.736, f = 11.82, p < 0.1). Correlation between photoperiod with copulating pairs (r = 0.857, f = 27.78, p < 0.01) and egg masses (r = 0.782, f = 15.77, p < 0.01) were found as well.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Effects of chronic lead ingestion on social development in infant rhesus monkeys.

The social behavior of infant rhesus monkeys during the first year of life was examined under a variety of lead (Pb) exposure conditions in four separate experiments. Daily ingestion of PB acetate in milk for one year elevated blood Pb levels to 30-100 microgram/dl, suppressed play, increased social clinging, and exacerbated the disruption of social behavior caused by changing the play environment midway through the year of observation. The presence of control monkeys in social test-groups reduced the magnitude of Pb-induced social behavior changes. In contrast to daily postnatal Pb exposure, chronic exposure to Pb during gestation had no measurable effect on postnatal social development, and acute, transient postnatal Pb exposure (producing blood Pb levels > 200 microgram/dl during month 2 of life) affected only the monkeys' response to the change in the plan environment. These data suggest that daily ingestion of Pb, and not a previously-acquired tissue burden, was responsible for the long-term changes in social development observed. The results are discussed in the general context of primate social development, which is thought to require adequate interactive play for appropriate social integration and reproductive behavior at maturity.

Aging↗
PubMed1996

Pheromone-induced second messenger signaling in the hamster vomeronasal organ.

Compounds present in estrous hamster vaginal discharge modulate male attraction and mounting behavior. These compounds are differentially processed by chemosensory neurons in the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) and vomeronasal organ (VNO). The transduction cascade responsible for this processing is unclear in the VNO, although studies of the MOE suggest that the second messengers cAMP or IP3 may be involved. Here we demonstrate that purified aphrodisin, a hamster mounting pheromone, modulates IP3 production in male VNO membranes without altering cAMP production. Aphrodisin does not alter the concentration of either second messenger in membranes from the MOE. These results confirm the specificity of the VNO in the processing of mounting pheromones and establishes the importance of IP3 cascades in mammalian reproductive behavior.

Animals↗