Cortisol Facilitates Induction of Sexual Behavior in the Female Musk Shrew (Suncus murinus)

Patricia A. Schiml, Emilie F. Rissman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The role of cortisol in sexual behavior in the female musk shrew ( Suncus murinus ) was examined. High levels of cortisol were associated with sexual receptivity, as indicated by species-typical tail-wagging behavior, during brief(15-min) mating tests. When cortisol production was blocked by metyrapone, an 11-β-hydroxylase inhibitor, females exhibited reduced sexual behavior relative to controls, an effect that was reversed with acute cortisol replacement. These results indicate that cortisol facilitates, rather than inhibits, sexual behavior in this species and expands the comparative understanding of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) effects on reproduction.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)166-175
Number of pages10
JournalBehavioral Neuroscience
Volume113
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Behavioral Neuroscience

Keywords

  • Adrenal Cortex / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Copulation / physiology
  • Female
  • Hydrocortisone / physiology*
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiology
  • Male
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiology
  • Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology*
  • Shrews / physiology*
  • hydrocortisone

Disciplines

  • Psychology

Cite this