Lynch Kathleen S, Wilczynski Walter
Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas, 108 East Dean Keeton, Seay, Psychology Building, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Horm Behav. 2006 Jun;50(1):101-6. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2006.01.010. Epub 2006 Mar 20.
The behavior of an individual within a social aggregation profoundly influences behavior and physiology of other animals within the aggregation in such a way that these social interactions can enhance reproductive success, survival and fitness. This phenomenon is particularly important during the breeding season when males and female must synchronize their reproductive efforts. We examined whether exposure to conspecific social cues can elevate sex steroid levels, specifically estradiol and androgens, in female túngara frogs (Physalaemus pustulosus). We compared plasma estradiol and androgen concentrations in wild-caught females before and after exposure to either natural mate choruses or random tones. After exposure to mate choruses for 10 consecutive nights, estradiol concentrations were significantly elevated whereas there was no significant elevation in estradiol concentrations in the group of females exposed to random tones for 10 nights. Plasma androgen concentrations were not significantly changed after exposure to either natural mate choruses or random tones for 10 consecutive nights. Social modulation of estradiol concentrations may be important in maintaining a female's reproductive state while males are chorusing. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate social regulation of estradiol concentration in female anurans.
在社会群体中，个体的行为会深刻影响群体内其他动物的行为和生理状态，使得这些社会互动能够提高繁殖成功率、生存率和适应性。这种现象在繁殖季节尤为重要，因为此时雄性和雌性必须同步它们的繁殖活动。我们研究了接触同种社会线索是否能提高雌性泡蟾（Physalaemus pustulosus）体内的性类固醇水平，特别是雌二醇和雄激素。我们比较了野生捕获的雌性泡蟾在接触自然交配叫声或随机音调之前和之后的血浆雌二醇和雄激素浓度。连续10个晚上接触交配叫声后，雌二醇浓度显著升高，而连续10个晚上接触随机音调的雌性组中雌二醇浓度没有显著升高。连续10个晚上接触自然交配叫声或随机音调后，血浆雄激素浓度没有显著变化。在雄性发出叫声时，雌二醇浓度的社会调节可能对维持雌性的繁殖状态很重要。据我们所知，这是第一项证明雌性无尾两栖动物中雌二醇浓度受社会调节的研究。
