Does selection for reduced adrenocortical responsiveness in Japanese quail have a positive impact on male sexual behavior?

MARIN R.H.; SATTERLEE D. G.

Atlanta, Georgia, Estados Unidos

Congreso; International Poultry Scientific Forum.; 2002

Poultry Science Association

Does selection for reduced adrenocortical responsiveness in Japanese quail have a positive impact on male sexual behavior? R.H. Marin and D.G. Satterlee. Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. Genetic selection of Japanese quail for a reduced (low stress, LS) rather than exaggerated (high stress, HS) adrenocortical response to brief restraint is associated with a non-specific reduction in stress responsiveness, decreased fearfulness, greater sociality, and enhanced male reproductive performance (augmented cloacal gland and testes size). Because sexual behavior has components that are affected by all of these traits, herein, the copulatory behavior of male LS and HS adults was compared. In Exp. 1, males from each line were individually tested in an experimental chamber (novel environment) in two consecutive steps. First, the approach (social proximity) of a test male (LS or HS) to a compartment containing two females (1 LS + 1 HS) that he could see but not reach was examined. Second, after allowing the test male and both females to co-mingle, the male’s latency to first grab (LATGRB) and the numbers of grabs (GRBS), mountings (MNTS) and cloacal contacts (CC) were recorded. LS males spent longer  (P = 0.08) near the females before the sexes were co-mingled. When the birds were allowed contact, LS males showed a significantly higher (P < 0.04) number of CC and greater  (P < 0.04) copulatory efficiency (CC/GRB) than HS males. No line differences were observed in LATGRB, GRBS, and MNTS. In Exp. 2, individually-caged males from each line were observed when one female (LS or HS) was introduced into their home cages as a sexual partner. The LS males showed a lower LATGRB and greater  CC and CC/GRB than HS quail (all P < 0.03). The present findings suggest that genetic selection for reduced adrenocortical stress responsiveness prior to the attainment of puberty has a positive impact on adult sexual behavior. Key words: corticosterone, Japanese quail, sexual behavior.