Biomaterial Database

Acute changes in plasma steroids and agonistic behavior in male Japanese quail. 1985

M Ramenofsky

A systematic analysis of the acute (minutes to hours) fluctuations of plasma steroids [androstenedione (A), 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone (T), corticosterone (B)] was investigated in relation to the fighting behavior displayed by experienced male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix) in short-term (2 min) dyadic encounters. Plasma levels of hormones measured in competitors either 1 hr before, during, or 3 min to 6 hr following a fight related poorly to either the attacking or nonattacking behavior displayed by opponents. However, transient fluctuations measured by the percentage change from prefight levels of plasma DHT, T, and B were identified in individuals following the onset of the fight. Winners demonstrated significantly greater percentage changes than did the losers at 3, 32, and 362 min for DHT and T and at 7 min for B. These differences in hormonal responses to the fight are attributed to the more aggressive behavior displayed by the victorious opponents (winners) over their defeated competitors (losers). Significance of these rapid changes is discussed in relation to the physiology and behavior of aggressive interactions.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007700	Kinetics	The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008297	Male		Males
D011784	Quail	Common name for two distinct groups of BIRDS in the order GALLIFORMES: the New World or American quails of the family Odontophoridae and the Old World quails in the genus COTURNIX, family Phasianidae.	Quails
D002940	Circadian Rhythm	The regular recurrence, in cycles of about 24 hours, of biological processes or activities, such as sensitivity to drugs or environmental and physiological stimuli.	Diurnal Rhythm,Nyctohemeral Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythm,Nycthemeral Rhythm,Circadian Rhythms,Diurnal Rhythms,Nycthemeral Rhythms,Nyctohemeral Rhythms,Rhythm, Circadian,Rhythm, Diurnal,Rhythm, Nycthemeral,Rhythm, Nyctohemeral,Rhythm, Twenty-Four Hour,Rhythms, Circadian,Rhythms, Diurnal,Rhythms, Nycthemeral,Rhythms, Nyctohemeral,Rhythms, Twenty-Four Hour,Twenty Four Hour Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythms
D003345	Corticosterone	An adrenocortical steroid that has modest but significant activities as a mineralocorticoid and a glucocorticoid. (From Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p1437)
D003370	Coturnix	A genus of BIRDS in the family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES, containing the common European and other Old World QUAIL.	Japanese Quail,Coturnix japonica,Japanese Quails,Quail, Japanese,Quails, Japanese
D000374	Aggression	Behavior which may be manifested by destructive and attacking action which is verbal or physical, by covert attitudes of hostility or by obstructionism.	Aggressions
D000378	Agonistic Behavior	Any behavior associated with conflict between two individuals.	Agonistic Behaviors,Behavior, Agonistic,Behaviors, Agonistic
D000728	Androgens	Compounds that interact with ANDROGEN RECEPTORS in target tissues to bring about the effects similar to those of TESTOSTERONE. Depending on the target tissues, androgenic effects can be on SEX DIFFERENTIATION; male reproductive organs, SPERMATOGENESIS; secondary male SEX CHARACTERISTICS; LIBIDO; development of muscle mass, strength, and power.	Androgen,Androgen Receptor Agonist,Androgen Effect,Androgen Effects,Androgen Receptor Agonists,Androgenic Agents,Androgenic Compounds,Agents, Androgenic,Agonist, Androgen Receptor,Agonists, Androgen Receptor,Compounds, Androgenic,Effect, Androgen,Effects, Androgen,Receptor Agonist, Androgen,Receptor Agonists, Androgen
D000735	Androstenedione	A delta-4 C19 steroid that is produced not only in the TESTIS, but also in the OVARY and the ADRENAL CORTEX. Depending on the tissue type, androstenedione can serve as a precursor to TESTOSTERONE as well as ESTRONE and ESTRADIOL.	4-Androstene-3,17-dione,delta-4-Androstenedione,4 Androstene 3,17 dione,delta 4 Androstenedione