Differential effects of courtship and mating on receptivity and brain metabolism in female red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis).
In the female red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis), the loss of receptivity following intromission during mating can be prevented by injection of a local anesthetic (tetracaine) in the cloacal region prior to courtship and mating. Females that were courted and then mated had significantly higher uptake of radio-labeled [14C]2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) in the preoptic area (25%) and significantly lower uptake in the ventromedial hypothalamus (-20%) compared with females that were courted but not mated. Tetracaine-treated females had accumulation patterns similar to courted but unmated females and to females exposed only to other females. These results suggest that in the female red-sided garter snake, sensory input from the cloaca during mating alters patterns of metabolism in those brain areas most often associated with female sexual behavior.
Mendonça
Mary T
MT
Department of Zoology and Wildlife Science, Auburn University, USA.
Daniels
Dena
D
Faro
Constance
C
Crews
David
D
D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D002988:Cloaca / Q000502:physiology; D003380:Courtship; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000502:physiology*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D012911:Snakes / Q000502:physiology*; D013748:Tetracaine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013748:Tetracaine; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18