T3: Reproductive Behavior

Question 1

What is the purpose of reproductive behavior

Answer 1

-promote the opportunity for copulation & increases the probability that the sperm and egg will meet
-ultimate goal copulation pregnancy

Question 2

What makes up female reproductive behavior

Answer 2

-confined to estrus in most species
-increase in physical activity/locomotion during estrus
-lordosis: rigid mating posture

Question 3

What is attractivity

Answer 3

behaviors and signals that serve to attract males (pheromones, head butting, mounting)

Question 4

What is proceptivity

Answer 4

behaviors that stimulate the male to copulate/ female can mount others

Question 5

what is receptivity

Answer 5

copulatory behavior of females that ensure insemination (standing estrus/standing to be mounted)

Question 6

What are some secondary signs of reproductive behavior

Answer 6

grouping (sexually active group), constantly moving, clear discharge, hair on the tail head rubbed off, chin resting/licking

Question 7

male is capable of initiating reproductive behavior _____ ________ puberty

Answer 7

anytime after

Question 8

initiation of courtship-

Answer 8

female

Question 9

male is constantly searching for ____from the female

Answer 9

signals (using most of the senses)

Question 10

what are the three stages of male reproductive behavior

Answer 10

precopulatory, copulatory, postcopulatory

Question 11

reproductive behavior in females consist of

Answer 11

attractivity, proceptivity, receptivity

Question 12

What comprises the precopulatory stage

Answer 12

-search for a partner
-courtship (sniffing vulva, flehmen response)
-sexual arousal (sight may be the most important)
-erection
-penile protrusion (site/female behavior is very important)

Question 13

What comprises the copulatory stage

Answer 13

• mounting (immobilization of female and elevation of front legs of male)
  -intromission (entrance of penis into vagina)
  -ejaculation (expulsion of semen into female tract)

Question 14

what comprises the postcopulatory stage

Answer 14

-dismount
-refractory period (2nd copulation will not take place)
-memory (positive and negative)

Question 15

copulatory behavior varies significantly

Answer 15

among species with regard to duration

Question 16

postcopulatory behavior is a period of

Answer 16

refractivity

Question 17

what comprises prenatal development

Answer 17

feminization and defeminization/masculinization

Question 18

what is feminization

Answer 18

low levels of estrogen to brain (alpha-fetoprotein)

Question 19

what is defeminization/masculinization

Answer 19

high concentrations of estrogen to brain
-because A-fetoprotein does not block testosterone and testosterone is converted to estrogen in the brain (testosterone can pass the blood brain barrier)

Question 20

describe the hormone signaling with A-FP and estrogen for both male and female

Answer 20

female:
E2 coming from fetal ovary, A-FP prevents E2 from entering the brain, bc E2 can not pass through the blood brain barrier- surge center develops(feminized)

Male:
Fetal testis are producing testosterone, AFP does not bind, helping it pass through the blood brain barrier, Testosterone is converted to E2, surge center is defeminized (absence of E2) and does not develop

Question 21

What is the role of the CNS

Answer 21

-testosterone is converted to E2 in the brain
-E2 promotes reproductive behavior
-relatively constant supply allowing male to initiate behavior anytime
-primary sensory inputs: olfaction, vision, audition, tactility

Question 22

What comprises olfaction

Answer 22

pheromone and vomeronasal organ

Question 23

What is a pheromone

Answer 23

volatile substance secreted or released to outside of body/ perceived by olfactory system and or vomeronasal organ

Question 24

what is the importance of the vomeronasal organ

Answer 24

-Fleming response
-connected to 2 small openings in anterior roof of the mouth
-opens into nasopalantine ducts
-allows “examination” of less volatile materials

Question 25

what are the main sensory inputs for repro behavior?

Answer 25

auditory, visual, tactile

Question 26

What are characteristics of the auditory input phase

Answer 26

cows bellow, sows grunt, good for long-range signaling

Question 27

What are characteristics of the visual input phase

Answer 27

posturing, males observing other males or females mounting, valuable for close encounters

Question 28

What are characteristics of the Tactile input phase

Answer 28

-biting on neck/ withers of the mare
-chin resting on cow
-boar nudging of sow flank
-final stimulus before copulation
-leads to erection

Question 29

What are the main characteristics for penile erection and protrusion

Answer 29

-increase rigidity of penis
-relaxation of retractor penis muscles
-erection

Question 30

what nervous system helps with erection

Answer 30

parasympathetic

Question 31

describe the process of erection

Answer 31

-contraction of ischiocavernousus muscle
-decreased venous outflow
-engorgement of corpus cavernosum
-increased arterial flow
-symphathetic nerves are inhibited
-NO stimulates conversion from GTP using guanylate cyclase tp cGMP

Question 32

what is the refractory period affected by

Answer 32

-degree of sexual rest
-age
-species
-degree of female novelty
-number of previous ejaculation’s

Question 33

what happens during emission

Answer 33

-contraction of cauda epididymis and vas deferens
-oxytocin from posterior pituitary
-sympathetic neurons (release of accessory gland fluid)