title: Transfer of [³H]estradiol-17β and [³H]progesterone from conspecifics to cohabiting female mice.
abstract: Estradiol-17β (E₂) and progesterone (P₄) play critical roles in female reproductive physiology and behavior. Given the sensitivity of females to exogenous sources of these steroids, we examined the presence of E₂ and P₄ in conspecifics' excretions and the transfer of excreted steroids between conspecifics. We paired individual adult female mice with a stimulus male or female conspecific given daily injections of [³H]E₂ or [³H]P₄. Following 48  h of direct interaction with the stimulus animal, we measured radioactivity in the uterus, ovaries, muscle, olfactory bulbs, mesencephalon and diencephalon (MC+DC), and cerebral cortex of the untreated female cohabitant. Radioactivity was significantly present in all tissues of female subjects after individual exposure to a stimulus male or female given [³H]E₂. In females exposed to males given [³H]P₄, radioactivity was significantly present in the uterus, ovaries, and muscle, but not in other tissues. In females exposed to stimulus females given [³H]P₄, radioactivity was significantly present in all tissues except the MC+DC. In mice directly administered [³H]steroids, greater radioactivity was found in the urine of females than of males. Among females directly administered [³H]steroids, greater radioactivity was found in urine of those given [³H]P4 than of those given [³H]E₂. When females were administered unlabeled E₂ before exposure to [³H]E₂-treated females, less radioactivity was detected in most tissues than was detected in the tissues of untreated females exposed to [³H]E₂-treated females. We suggest that steroid transfer among individuals has implications for the understanding of various forms of pheromonal activity.
authors: Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1.
authors: Adam C
authors: AC
authors: Guzzo
authors: Tyler
authors: T
authors: Pollock
authors: Denys
authors: D
authors: deCatanzaro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001692:Biological Transport; D004958:Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D010675:Pheromones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D011897:Random Allocation; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D012919:Social Behavior; D014316:Tritium; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones; D014316:Tritium; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol