title: Arginine vasotocin inhibits social interactions and enhances essential activities in male common lizards (Zootoca vivipara).
abstract: Arginine vasotocin (AVT) is known to play an important role in the regulation of social behavior in a number of vertebrate species. Nevertheless, the relationship between AVT and intraspecific interactions appears complex and in some cases contradictory. Moreover, AVT influences other behaviors, which are not primarily social including exploratory behavior, locomotion and thermoregulation. Some of these behavioral effects may be side-effects from a general influence of AVT on physiology. Indeed AVT can regulate metabolism and osmoregulation. Because most studies have been conducted using mammals and birds, its role in modulating behavior in other vertebrate groups is largely unknown. In this study we examined the effect of AVT on the social behavior of male common lizards, Zootoca vivipara. Moreover, considering the variety of pathways AVT could be involved in, we investigated its consequences on thermoregulatory behavior and physiological performance. In mid-June 2010, 74 males were captured from field sites (Mont-Lozère, South-eastern France) and kept in the laboratory for three weeks to obtain behavioral (reaction to conspecific odors, thermoregulation) and physiological (endurance, testosterone level) measurements. We demonstrated that injection of AVT reduced testosterone level and affected social behavior in different ways depending on the size of an individual. Specifically, small males injected with AVT were less attracted by conspecific odors than small control males, and no effect was detected in large males. Moreover, AVT promoted thermoregulatory behavior and enhanced endurance. These results are concordant with previous results obtained in this species in studies on stress suggesting that AVT may act through its influence on corticosterone secretion.
authors: Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris (iEES Paris) - UPMC-CNRS, Bat. A, 7ème étage, quai Saint Bernard, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France; ESPE de Paris-Université Paris Sorbonne, 10 rue Molitor, 75016 Paris, France. Electronic address: sandrine.meylan@upmc.fr.
authors: Sandrine
authors: S
authors: Meylan
authors: Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris (iEES Paris) - UPMC-CNRS, Bat. A, 7ème étage, quai Saint Bernard, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France.
authors: Félix
authors: F
authors: Lallemand
authors: Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris (iEES Paris) - UPMC-CNRS, Bat. A, 7ème étage, quai Saint Bernard, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France.
authors: Claudy
authors: C
authors: Haussy
authors: Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement de Paris (iEES Paris) - UPMC-CNRS, Bat. A, 7ème étage, quai Saint Bernard, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France.
authors: Josefa
authors: J
authors: Bleu
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, 131 Life Sciences Building, Athens, OH 4570, USA.
authors: Donald
authors: D
authors: Miles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008116:Lizards / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014668:Vasotocin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014668:Vasotocin
keywords: AVT; Endurance; Reptile; Social interaction; Stress; Testosterone; Thermoregulation