title: The hormonal induction of mating behavior in female gray short-tailed opossums (Monodelphis domestica).
abstract: The activating effects of estradiol alone and of estradiol plus progesterone on copulation and related behavior were examined in ovariectomized female gray short-tailed opossums. Following receipt of subcutaneous estradiol (E) or cholesterol (C) implants, E-females showed less screeching threat behavior toward intact males than C-females. Intact males showed more precopulatory behavior toward E- than toward C-females, and 20% of E-females and no C-females copulated with males. In a second experiment, females that had previously received subcutaneous E implants received injections of either corn oil alone (E + OIL) or 500 micrograms progesterone in corn oil (E + P) 4 hr before behavioral testing. Of E + P-females, 88% copulated with males, compared to 38% of E + OIL-females. All females that copulated in both experiments showed anogenital dragging just prior to copulation. Hormonal induction of estrous behavior and copulation has not been reported previously in a female marsupial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103, USA.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Fadem
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Taylor-Ali
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Erianne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009893:Opossums; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D002784:Cholesterol