Influence of olfactory signals on the reproductive behaviour of social groups of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

1982 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. Michael ◽  
Doris Zumpe
Keyword(s):  
Mate Selection ◽  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Order Effect ◽  
Olfactory Communication ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
Sexual Skin

Olfactory influences are important in the control of reproductive function in many mammalian species including primates. Previous studies have shown that a mixture of volatile aliphatic acids (copulins), normally present in the vaginal secretions of rhesus monkeys, can exert a stimulatory effect on the sexual behaviour of males when pairs are tested in small cages. The present study deals with the role of these substances when tested in social groups of rhesus monkeys housed in a large testing arena, the purpose being to assess the effectiveness of olfactory signals under more nearly naturalistic conditions. Each group consisted of one male with four long-term ovariectomized females from which the male could choose. A counter-balanced experimental design was used in which each female of a testosterone-treated pair was given applications to the sexual skin of either copulins or control ether immediately before each 1-h behaviour test. After 16 tests, the procedure was repeated with the previously untreated pair in each group, and nine groups were separately studied. Testosterone was used here simply to enhance female proceptivity. The results showed that females received significantly more ejaculations (P <0·05). mounting attempts (P <0·01) and mounts (P <0·05) when bearing copulins than when bearing control ether. There were positive responses to copulins in 12 of the 36 male–female pairs, involving all males, and positive responses to ether in five of 36 pairs, involving four males. Copulins resulted in a change in the choice of sexual partner in five males, but there were no changes in the choice of partner with ether. Social factors, such as dominance, could override the responses to olfactory signals, and there was a significant treatment order effect, but this was eliminated by the counter-balanced design. These findings indicate a significant role for olfactory communication in mate selection in a socially living higher primate.

Personal Psychologic Pecularities of Aborted Women

2001 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-218
Author(s):  
A. N. Yusupova ◽  
O. N. Kamysheva
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Family Planning Service ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Significant Part ◽  
Planning Service ◽  
Psychic Reactions

It is established that the significant part of aborted women is susceptable to pronounced negative psychic reactions (personal alarm, psychotism, neurotism) which have stable nature. Women with such personal psychologic characteristics present a group of highW risk of abortion propagation, various disorders of reproductive function and reproductive behaviour. In women dispensaries and in family planning service institutions it is necessary to introduce the psychologic testing to reveal persons of this risk group and to perform the corresponding psychologic correction for prevention of undesirable pregnancy.

scholarly journals The Usefulness of Retinoic Acid Supplementation during in Vitro Oocyte Maturation for the in Vitro Embryo Production of Livestock: A Review

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelnour ◽  
El-Hack ◽  
Swelum ◽  
Saadeldin ◽  
Noreldin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retinoic Acid ◽  
Embryo Development ◽  
Oocyte Maturation ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Embryonic Growth ◽  
Oxidative Damages

Retinoic acid (RA) is an indigenous metabolite and descriptive physiologically functioning constituent of vitamin A. Retinoids were documented as vital regulators for cell development and distinction, embryonic growth, and reproductive function in both male and female livestock. Previously, RA has been shown to have several positive impacts in vivo and in vitro and critically control many reproductive events, such as oocyte development, follicular growth, and early embryonic growth. In addition, RA manages apoptotic signaling and oxidative damages in cells. Recently, RA has been used widely in assisted reproductive technology fields, especially during in vitro embryo development in various mammalian species, including buffaloes, bovine, goats, sheep, pigs, and rabbits. However, the optimum concentration of RA greatly differs based on the condition of maturation media and species. Based on the obtained findings, it was generally accepted that RA enhances nuclear oocyte maturation, cleavage and maturation rates, blastocyst formation, and embryo development. As such, it possesses antioxidant properties against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an anti-apoptotic effect through enhancing the transcription of some related genes such as superoxide dismutase, prostaglandin synthase, glutathione peroxidase, peroxiredoxins, and heme oxygenase. Therefore, the current review concludes that an addition of RA (up to 50 nM) has the potential to improve the oocyte maturation media of various species of livestock due to its antioxidant activity.

scholarly journals Major histocompatibility complex-associated odour preferences and human mate choice: near and far horizons

2020 ◽  
Vol 375 (1800) ◽  
pp. 20190260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Havlíček ◽  
Jamie Winternitz ◽  
S. Craig Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Major Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Mate Choice ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Mate Selection ◽  
Adaptive Immune System ◽  
Mate Preferences ◽  
Olfactory Communication ◽  
Major Histocompatibility ◽  
Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Meta Analyses

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a core part of the adaptive immune system. As in other vertebrate taxa, it may also affect human chemical communication via odour-based mate preferences, with greater attraction towards MHC-dissimilar partners. However, despite some well-known findings, the available evidence is equivocal and made complicated by varied approaches to quantifying human mate choice. To address this, we here conduct comprehensive meta-analyses focusing on studies assessing: (i) genomic mate selection, (ii) relationship satisfaction, (iii) odour preference, and (iv) all studies combined. Analysis of genomic studies reveals no association between MHC-dissimilarity and mate choice in actual couples; however, MHC effects appear to be independent of the genomic background. The effect of MHC-dissimilarity on relationship satisfaction was not significant, and we found evidence for publication bias in studies on this area. There was also no significant association between MHC-dissimilarity and odour preferences. Finally, combining effect sizes from all genomic, relationship satisfaction, odour preference and previous mate choice studies into an overall estimate showed no overall significant effect of MHC-similarity on human mate selection. Based on these findings, we make a set of recommendations for future studies, focusing both on aspects that should be implemented immediately and those that lurk on the far horizon. We need larger samples with greater geographical and cultural diversity that control for genome-wide similarity. We also need more focus on mechanisms of MHC-associated odour preferences and on MHC-associated pregnancy loss. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Olfactory communication in humans’.

scholarly journals Obligatory role of hypothalamic neuroestradiol during the estrogen-induced LH surge in female ovariectomized rhesus monkeys

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (52) ◽  
pp. 13804-13809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian P. Kenealy ◽  
Kim L. Keen ◽  
James P. Garcia ◽  
Lucille K. Kohlenberg ◽  
Ei Terasawa
Keyword(s):  
Positive Feedback ◽  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Feedback Loop ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Feedback Mechanism ◽  
Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone ◽  
Feedback Effects ◽  
17Β Estradiol ◽  
Positive Feedback Mechanism

Negative and positive feedback effects of ovarian 17β-estradiol (E2) regulating release of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are pivotal events in female reproductive function. While ovarian feedback on hypothalamo–pituitary function is a well-established concept, the present study shows that neuroestradiol, locally synthesized in the hypothalamus, is a part of estrogen’s positive feedback loop. In experiment 1, E2 benzoate-induced LH surges in ovariectomized female monkeys were severely attenuated by systemic administration of the aromatase inhibitor, letrozole. Aromatase is the enzyme responsible for synthesis of E2 from androgens. In experiment 2, using microdialysis, GnRH and kisspeptin surges induced by E2 benzoate were similarly attenuated by infusion of letrozole into the median eminence of the hypothalamus. Therefore, neuroestradiol is an integral part of the hypothalamic engagement in response to elevated circulating E2. Collectively, we will need to modify the concept of estrogen’s positive feedback mechanism.

scholarly journals Acute Influences of Bisphenol A Exposure on Hypothalamic Release of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone and Kisspeptin in Female Rhesus Monkeys

Endocrinology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 156 (7) ◽  
pp. 2563-2570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph R. Kurian ◽  
Kim L. Keen ◽  
Brian P. Kenealy ◽  
James P. Garcia ◽  
Curtis J. Hedman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bisphenol A ◽  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Acute Effect ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Epidemiologic Evidence ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Female Rhesus ◽  
Human Reproductive ◽  
High Level

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial compound with pervasive distribution in the environments of industrialized countries. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recently found that greater than 90% of Americans carry detectable levels of BPA, raising concern over the direct influences of this compound on human physiology. Epidemiologic evidence links elevated BPA serum concentrations to human reproductive dysfunction, although controlled studies on the acute effect of BPA exposure on reproductive function are limited, particularly in primates. We evaluated the effect of direct BPA exposure on female primate hypothalamic peptide release. Specifically, using a microdialysis method, we examined the effects of BPA (0.1, 1, and 10nM) directly infused to the stalk-median eminence on the release of GnRH and kisspeptin (KP) in mid to late pubertal ovarian intact female rhesus monkeys. We found that the highest level of BPA exposure (10nM) suppressed both GnRH and KP release, whereas BPA at lower concentrations (0.1 and 1nM) had no apparent effects. In addition, we measured BPA in plasma and hypothalamic dialysates after an iv bolus injection of BPA (100 μg/kg). We found a relatively stable distribution of BPA between the blood and brain (plasma:brain ≅ 5:1) persists across a wide range of blood BPA concentrations (1–620 ng/mL). Findings of this study suggest that persistent, high-level exposures to BPA could impair female reproductive function by directly influencing hypothalamic neuroendocrine function.

Genetic differentiation among matrilines in social groups of rhesus monkeys

1981 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Olivier ◽  
Carole Ober ◽  
John Buettner-Janusch ◽  
Donald Stone Sade
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Differentiation ◽  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Social Groups

Peak occurrence of female sexual initiation predicts day of conception in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia L. Zehr ◽  
Pamela L. Tannenbaum ◽  
Benjamin Jones ◽  
Kim Wallen
Keyword(s):  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Sexual Initiation ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Sexual Solicitation ◽  
Delivery Date ◽  
Conception Date ◽  
Highly Correlated

The present study investigated whether peaks in female sexual initiation could accurately predict conception in group-living female rhesus monkeys. Behavioral observations, 4 or 5 days per week in large, stable, social groups of monkeys, provided frequencies of female initiation of proximity, sexual solicitation, mounts, and ejaculations. Since a preovulatory peak in female sexual initiation is likely linked to the preovulatory oestradiol surge, we used the third day after a peak in behavior as the behavioral estimate of conception date. For each pregnancy, an independent estimate of conception date was derived from ultrasound determination of fetal length. Estimates of conception based on female initiation of proximity with adult males were accurate for more than 90% of pregnancies, whereas observation of ejaculations by males predicted conception in fewer than 60% of pregnancies. Behavioral and ultrasound estimates of conception date were highly correlated and differed by less than 1 day on average. Accordingly, predictions of delivery date based on behavioral estimates of conception date were as accurate as those based on ultrasound-derived estimates. These data suggest that female-initiated sexual behavior can be used in rhesus monkeys as a practical, non-invasive tool for producing timed matings in social groups of monkeys, providing accurate estimates of conception date, gestational age, and predicted date of birth.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document