title: Male-female interaction throughout the oestrous cycle of the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).
abstract: Interactions between male and female hamsters over the oestrous cycle were measured in terms of proximity. Independent variations in approaching and leaving by the female were found over the four-day period. Changes in female behaviour, which could be related to known changes in her hormonal state, resulted in changes in the male-female interaction not only at oestrous but also within the three dioestrous days of the cycle. These changes were in the amount of time the animals spent together or apart; this in turn was affected by which sex initiated the approaches and leaves. During oestrus proximity measures correlated well with latency to first lordosis which is a sensitive measure of degree of receptivity. Proximity measures provide a detailed description of the male-female interaction and should prove useful in studying the effects of experimental alteration of previous experience and hormonal state.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae / Q000502:physiology*; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal