Influence of gonadal sex hormones on behavioral components of the reproductive hierarchy in naked mole-rats

Hormones and Behavior
Sharry L GoldmanBruce D Goldman

Abstract

Naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) are fossorial, eusocial rodents that live in colonies which typically include 60-80 individuals. Generally, only one of the females and 1-3 of the males in a colony are reproductives. The reproductives engage in mutual genital nuzzling behavior that is rarely exhibited by subordinates (non-reproductives). Thus, genital nuzzling may represent a mechanism of bonding and/or specific recognition between reproductive individuals. We investigated whether gonadal hormones are involved in the maintenance of genital nuzzling behavior and mating behaviors in isolated pairs of mole-rats and also in established breeding pairs of mole-rats within colonies. We also explored whether sex hormone deprivation would alter the strict partner preference for performance of nuzzling within colonies. Our results indicate (a) considerable variation between pairs in the frequency of nuzzling, (b) a reduction in the frequency of nuzzling following castration of the male and restoration of the 'baseline' frequency after replacement of testosterone in castrated males, (c) the failure of either castration or combined castration and ovariectomy to eliminate genital nuzzling in established pairs, and (d) the exhibition ...Continue Reading

References

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Mar 29, 2002·Journal of Neurobiology·Maria E PeroulakisNancy G Forger

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Citations

Jun 9, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Melissa M HolmesNancy G Forger
May 7, 2009·Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology·Melissa M HolmesNancy G Forger
Dec 7, 2010·Behavioural Brain Research·Melissa M HolmesNancy G Forger
Oct 26, 2013·Behavioural Brain Research·Daniel L MongilloMelissa M Holmes
Feb 1, 2014·Social Neuroscience·Skyler J MooneyMelissa M Holmes
Jun 12, 2021·Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology·Mariela Faykoo-MartinezMelissa M Holmes

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