Harrer S, Schmidt W J
Physiol Behav. 1986;37(4):567-72. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(86)90287-8.
The predatory behavior of female ferrets shows seasonal fluctuations which appear to be affected by estradiol. Under natural lighting conditions in the laboratory the annual rhythm of the behavior was observed during anestrus, estrus, pregnancy, pseudopregnancy and lactating period. Females in heat failed to show predatory behavior whereas females in anestrus killed their prey. Exposure of anestrous ferrets to a prolonged illumination (LD 16:8) during winter induced an estrus which inhibited predatory behavior. When estrus was terminated with human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), predatory behavior did not further regress as it did in control runs. Thus, during the period of estrus, when estrogen levels are presumably high, predatory behavior was inhibited. To prove a possible interdependency of estrogen and predatory behavior, estradiol-17 beta-valerat was chronically administered. This treatment induced the estrous cycle one day after the first injection. Inhibition of predatory behavior occurred following a delay of 28 days. Thus, fluctuations of estradiol levels are a factor which may affect fluctuations of predatory behavior in female ferrets.
雌性雪貂的捕食行为呈现出季节性波动，这似乎受到雌二醇的影响。在实验室的自然光照条件下，观察到了该行为在乏情期、发情期、妊娠期、假孕期和哺乳期的年度节律。处于发情期的雌性雪貂未表现出捕食行为，而处于乏情期的雌性雪貂会捕杀猎物。在冬季，将乏情期的雪貂置于延长光照（LD 16:8）条件下会诱导发情，进而抑制捕食行为。当用人绒毛膜促性腺激素（HCG）终止发情时，捕食行为不像对照实验那样进一步消退。因此，在发情期，当雌激素水平可能较高时，捕食行为受到抑制。为了证明雌激素与捕食行为之间可能存在的相互依存关系，长期注射17β-雌二醇戊酸酯。这种处理在首次注射一天后诱导出了发情周期。捕食行为在延迟28天后受到抑制。因此，雌二醇水平的波动是可能影响雌性雪貂捕食行为波动的一个因素。
