Preoptic formation of 17 beta-oestradiol is influenced by behavioural stimuli in the dove.
In vitro study of testosterone (T) metabolism shows that formation of 17 beta-oestradiol (E2) in the preoptic area is higher in male doves exposed to behavioural stimuli from interacting pairs than in visually isolated males or males that have interacted with females. Formation of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, 5 beta-dihydrotestosterone and 5 beta-androstane-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol was similar in all groups, indicating that exposure to stimuli from interacting pairs influences aromatization of T and not other pathways of androgen metabolism. The results suggest that sexual stimuli, which do not involve tactile contact between male and female, affect local E2 formation in the brain.
D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D010856:Columbidae / Q000502:physiology*; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000378:metabolism*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D015113:Androstane-3,17-diol; D004958:Estradiol