Hormonal induction of male courtship behavior in the Japanese newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster.

In the breeding season, the sexually mature male newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster, vibrates the tail in front of the female at an early stage of courtship. Effects of prolactin (PRL), gonadotropin (GTH), and sex steroids on this behavior were investigated in the male paired with the female receiving PRL and GTH. The behavior was elicited in the sexually inert male by injections of PRL of bovine, ovine, or bullfrog origin and human chorionic gonadotropin or bullfrog LH and FSH in combination. The effect of PRL or GTH alone was less marked than that of PRL plus GTH, especially in terms of frequency of the behavior. In the hypophysectomized male, combination of PRL and GTH significantly increased both the incidence and frequency of the behavior. However, PRL alone was not effective, and the effect of GTH alone was less pronounced than that in the intact animal receiving GTH injections. The effect of GTH was nullified by castration. In the PRL-treated castrated animal, testosterone or dihydrotestosterone, but not estradiol, was effective in inducing the behavior.