Behavioural action of androgen in the dove: effects of long-term castration on response specificity and brain aromatization.
Differences in the effectiveness of oestradiol-17 beta and testosterone on male courtship and vocal behaviour were examined in long-term castrated doves. Nest-orientated behaviour was restored by intramuscular injection of oestradiol-17 beta. Testosterone was effective in restoring aggressive courtship and vocal behaviour, but not for the nest-orientated behaviour. The effects of these hormones were separable, therefore, under conditions of prolonged androgen deficit, suggesting differences in their specificity of action. In-vitro assay of brain enzyme activity indicated that aromatization of testosterone to oestradiol-17 beta occurred in the preoptic area of long-term castrated doves. Preoptic aromatase activity of long- and short-term castrated doves did not differ. The ineffectiveness of testosterone in restoring nest-orientated behaviour in long-term castrated doves did not appear, therefore, to be due to a difference between the groups in the basal rate of testosterone aromatization in the preoptic area.
D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism; D002369:Castration; D010856:Columbidae; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000201:enzymology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D001141:Aromatase