Effects of exogenous gonadotropic and steroid hormones on the social behaviour and gonadal maturation of male domestic ducklings Anas platyrhynchos L.
Arch Int Physiol Biochim, 1979/10;87(4):741-61.
PMID: 93890
Abstract
Male domestic ducklings were injected during their first month of life with mammalian gonadotrophins (ovine LH or FSH, HMG) or gonadal steroids (testosterone or oestradiol). LH and testosterone stimulated sexual behaviour while oestradiol inhibited the increase of aggression observed in control birds during the experiment. The mammalian gonadotrophins did not increase plasma testosterone but nevertheless they all stimulated the testis growth. Several hypotheses which could explain this finding (stimulation of spermatogenesis without any apparent effect on testosterone) are discussed and the possibility of a direct action of LH on the sexual behaviour is analysed. Social displays were only moderately stimulated by testosterone and not at all by gonadotrophins. The hormonal controls of these behaviour patterns remains thus largely unknown.
MeSH terms
Aggression; Animals; Body Weight; Ducks; Estradiol; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone; Humans; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Organ Size; Penis; Sexual Behavior, Animal; Sexual Maturation; Social Behavior; Testis; Testosterone
More resources
EndNote: Download