TY - JOUR
T1 - Differential effects of arginine vasotocin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone on sexual behaviors in an anuran amphibian
AU - Propper, Catherine R.
AU - Dixon, Timothy B.
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank the staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge for their assistance in providing housing during the collecting season. Wayne Schif¯ett and Thea Ulen have been particularly helpful in this regard. We also thank Loree Harvey for her technical assistance and for reviewing earlier drafts of the manuscript. William Johnson, Randy Hunt, Loretta Mayer, and Heather Stein all provided useful comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by NSF Grant IBN 93-10352 to C.R.P.
PY - 1997/10
Y1 - 1997/10
N2 - Both arginine vasotocin (AVT) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) are known to influence sexual behavior in many vertebrate taxa. We investigated the effects of both of these peptides on two different sexual behaviors, calling and amplexus, in the Great Plains toad (Bufo cognatus). AVT, at a dosage of 100/μg/100 g toad, significantly increased both the amount of calling behavior per individual and the probability that an individual would call. GnRH, however, had no effect on calling behavior. There was a reciprocal effect of these peptides on amplexus: AVT did not induce amplexus, while GnRH significantly induced this behavior. Furthermore, AVT-induced calling could be inhibited by Manning compound (an arginine vasopressin receptor antagonist). This is the first report of GnRH influencing sexual behavior in an anuran amphibian. These results suggest that specific sexual behavior in B. cognatus may be under the regulation of independent peptide control.
AB - Both arginine vasotocin (AVT) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) are known to influence sexual behavior in many vertebrate taxa. We investigated the effects of both of these peptides on two different sexual behaviors, calling and amplexus, in the Great Plains toad (Bufo cognatus). AVT, at a dosage of 100/μg/100 g toad, significantly increased both the amount of calling behavior per individual and the probability that an individual would call. GnRH, however, had no effect on calling behavior. There was a reciprocal effect of these peptides on amplexus: AVT did not induce amplexus, while GnRH significantly induced this behavior. Furthermore, AVT-induced calling could be inhibited by Manning compound (an arginine vasopressin receptor antagonist). This is the first report of GnRH influencing sexual behavior in an anuran amphibian. These results suggest that specific sexual behavior in B. cognatus may be under the regulation of independent peptide control.
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U2 - 10.1006/hbeh.1997.1408
DO - 10.1006/hbeh.1997.1408
M3 - Article
C2 - 9367717
AN - SCOPUS:0031396445
SN - 0018-506X
VL - 32
SP - 99
EP - 104
JO - Hormones and Behavior
JF - Hormones and Behavior
IS - 2
ER -