Female Reproductive Behaviour 6

Question 1

What is the difference when using the words oestrous and oestrus?

Answer 1

Oestrous: a phase in the cycle
Oestrus: an adjective describing when an animal is in heat

Question 2

What two hormones promote egg development?

Answer 2

LH and FSH

Question 3

What is the difference in the rat ovarian cycle compared to humans?

Answer 3

Progesterone increases sooner and declines earlier, allowing them to have a rapid return to oestrus in a 4 day cycle if there is no mating

Allows for rapid reproduction

Question 4

What are the 3 sexual behaviour components proposed by frank beach?

Answer 4

1. Attractivity: how willing the male is to mate with her
2. Proceptivity: a females eagerness to mate
3. Receptivity: a females ability to mate

Question 5

What is the Bruce effect?

Answer 5

Pregnant female mice aborted their embryos when housed with an unfamiliar male

Question 6

What study showed that the mPOA is involved in odour processing?

Answer 6

Syrian hamsters that were given mPOA lesions did not discriminate between male and female odours whereas normal hamsters investigated the male odour more