Hormonal Control of Animal behavior: part 2

Question 1

Describe how hormones affect animal behavior (sexual) in rodents

Answer 1

Peak of relative hormone levels (LH, progesterone, estrogen, FSH) leads to mounting and reproduction behaviors

Question 2

Describe how androgen hormone affects behavior in birds

Answer 2

Gaping behavior

In hatchlings, some birds are older than others, which could potentially put younger birds in danger

However, more androgens in eggs allow younger birds to beg just as aggressively as older birds

Question 3

Describe how hormones influence structures that influence behavior

Answer 3

Bird vocalization:

Many species in our area only allow male birds to sing

Closer to equator male and females sing

Increase in testosterone increases neuron size, initiates singing behaviors

Question 4

Describe how hormones affect animal behavior in African Cloud Frogs

Answer 4

Androgens act on larynx (vocal cords) to produce female and male vocalizations

Males produce special cord females cannot

Question 5

Hypothamalmus

Answer 5

brain’s control center, manages basic functions (temp, hunger, thirst, sleep, emotions), connects nervous system to endocrine systems

Question 6

Anterior pituitary

Answer 6

Makes trophic factors (target endocrine glands)

Endocrine glands produce certain hormones
ACTH: adrenocorticotropic hormone
FSH: follicle stimulating hormone
LH: Lutenizing hormone

Question 7

HPA Axis

Answer 7

hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal gland

Question 8

Describe the multiple Anterior pituitary processes

Answer 8

CRH -> ACTH -> adrenal gland, produces glucoriticoids
CRH = corticotropic releasing hormone
HPA axis

GnRH -> FSH -> gonad: in male creates sperm, in female creates follicle development

GnRH -> LH -> gonad: in male creates testosterone (androgen), in female creates estrogens/progestins

GnRH = gonadotropin releasing hormone

Question 9

Posterior pituitary

Answer 9

Stores and releases oxytocin and vasopressin

Electrical signals in hypothalamus (brain)
Leads to oxytocin and vasopressin

Go to mammary gland, kidneys, uterus

Only store and released from, not produced

Question 10

Steroid enzyme pathway

Answer 10

Multiple different enzymes will keep transforming cholesterol into further steroid until the steroid wanted is reached

Question 11

How quickly does it take for steroid hormones to activate a cell? Peptide and protein hormones?

Answer 11

Steroid hormones take hours, peptide and protein hormones take minutes

Question 12

When activating a cell, where would you expect to find the receptors for steroid hormones? Protein and peptide hormones?

Answer 12

Steroid hormones have receptors inside cell, since they are fats they do not need special conditions to pass through phospholipid bilayer

Protein and peptide hormones need receptor on outside of cell, special conditions of phospholipid bilayer do not allow them to pass through

Question 13

What is the function of anterior and posterior pituitary?

Answer 13

Anterior pituitary makes, stores, and releases items

Posterior pituitary stores and releases oxytocin and vasopressin (DOES NOT MAKE)

Question 14

What steps are involved in the activation of a G-coupled protein receptor?

Answer 14

answer later

Question 15

What is the difference between positive and negative feedback systems? Can you provide an example using the HPG and HPA axis?

Answer 15

Feedback loop : control hormone release

Positive feedback: stimulus leads to increase in response
Example: oxytocin

Negative feedback: stimulus leads to decrease in response
Example: GnRH – gonads being produced will eventually shot down FSH and LH, as well as GnRH
This in HPA axis

Question 16

What is the SNB system and why is it maintained in male but not female rats?

Answer 16

Specific motor neurons, connect to muscles

Muscles wrap around rat penis, flippinf behavior that ejects farther into reproductive canal

Male maintains system due to androgens

Females born with this always, but lost from absence of androgens

Can be manipulated in experiments to keep it in females, but not needed obviously lol

Question 17

What is the function of aromatase and 5α - reductase enzyme?

Answer 17

Aromatase: an enzyme that converts androgens intro estrogens (required to convert)

5a-reductase: an enzyme that converts androgens into more potent androgens for stronger bind and effect

Question 18

From what body parts are sex steroids produced?

Answer 18

Brain, gonads, adrenal glands

Question 19

Where are oxytocin and vasopressin made?

Answer 19

Hypothalamus!