Effect of progesterone on the sexual behavior of the male Japanese quail.

The reduced metabolites of testosterone produced in the central nervous system of birds are known to be involved in the regulation of male sexual behavior. Since progesterone may compete with testosterone for 5 alpha- and 5 beta-reduction, it may also interfere with the sexual behavior of birds. In order to test this hypothesis, progesterone was administered to male quail either transferred from short days to long days or kept in short days and treated with testosterone. Sexual behavior and crowing were scored at intervals for 21 days and the size of the cloacal gland was measured at the same times. On Day 21, the birds were killed and their testes were weighed. The administration of a large dose (1 mg/day) of progesterone depressed the sexual behavior of the birds stimulated either by long days or by the administration of testosterone. It is suggested that progesterone may compete with testosterone for the active sites of 5 alpha- and 5 beta-reductase; alternatively, its effect may be due to an antiandrogenic activity.