Involvement of the neurosteroid 7α-hydroxypregnenolone in the courtship behavior of the male newt Cynops pyrrhogaster
Reproductive behavior in amphibians, as in other vertebrate animals, is controlled by multiple hormones. A neurosteroid, 7α-hydroxypregnenolone, has recently been found to enhance locomotor activity in the male newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster. Here, we show that this neurosteroid is also involved in enhancing the expression of courtship behavior. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of 7α-hydroxypregnenolone enhanced courtship behavior […]
Effects of water restriction on reproductive physiology and affiliative behavior in an opportunistically-breeding and monogamous songbird, the zebra finch
Abstract Wild zebra finches form long-term monogamous pair-bonds that are actively maintained year-round, even when not in breeding condition. These desert finches are opportunistic breeders, and breeding is highly influenced by unpredictable rainfall. Their high levels of affiliation and complex breeding patterns make zebra finches an excellent model in which to study the endocrine regulation […]