The Hamster: Reproduction and Behavior

447 Pages·1985·11.269 MB·English

by  Michael R. Murphy (auth.), Harold I. Siegel (eds.)

THE HAMSTER
Reproduction and Behavior
THE HAMSTER
Reproduction and Behavior
Edited by
Harold I. Siegel
Institute of Animal Behavior and Department of Psychology
University College
Rutgers University
Newark, New Jersey
PLENUM PRESS • NEW YORK AND LONDON
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Main entry under tide:
The Hamster: reproduction and behavior.
Includes bibliographies and index.
1. Hamsters-Reproduction. 2. Hamsters-Behavior. 3. Hamsters-Physiology. 4. Mammals
Reproduction. 5. Mammals-Behavior. 6. Mammals-Physiology. 1. Siegel, Harold 1. [DNLM: 1.
Behavior, Animal. 2. Hamsters. 3. Reproduction. QL 737.R638 H232)
QL737.R638H34 1985 599.32'33 84-24860
ISBN 978-1-4757-0817-2 ISBN 978-1-4757-0815-8 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4757-0815-8
©1985 Plenum Press, New York
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1985
A Division of Plenum Publishing Corporation
233 Spring Street, New York, N.Y. 10013
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, mictofilming,
recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher
Contributors
ANDRZEJ BARTKE Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University
of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78284.
Present Address: Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University, School of
Medicine, Carbondale, Illinois 62901
CLAIRE A. BERIAN Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New
York 14853
KATARINA T. BORER Department of Kinesiology, University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
C. SUE CARTER Departments of Psychology and Ecology, Ethology and Evolu-
tion, University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois 61820
LYNWOOD G. CLEMENS Department of Zoology, Michigan State University,
East Lansing, Michigan 48823
BARBARA L. FINLAY Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca,
New York 14853
GILBERT S. GREENWALD Department of Physiology, University of Kansas
Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66103
ROBERT E. JOHNSTON Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca,
New York, 14853
CHRISTIANA M. LEONARD Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida
College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32610
ROBERT D. LISK Department of Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New
Jersey 08544
v
vi CONTRIBUTORS
CHARLES W. MALSBURY Department of Psychology, Memorial University of
Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada AlB 3X9
MARIO O. MICELI Department of Psychology, Memorial University of New-
foundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada AlB 3X9
LAWRENCE P. MORIN Department of Psychiatry, State University of New
York, Stony Brook, New York 11794
MICHAEL R. MURPHY System Research Laboratories, Box 35313, Brooks Air
Force Base, San Antonio, Texas 78235
RUSSELJ. REITER Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, The Univer-
sity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78284
THOMAS A. SCHOENFELD Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology,
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts 01545
CHARLES W. SCOUTEN Department of Psychology, Memorial University of
Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada AlB 3X9
HAROLD I. SIEGEL Institute of Animal Behavior and Department of Psychol-
ogy, University College, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102
JEFFREY A. WITCHER Department of Zoology, Michigan State University,
East Lansing, Michigan 48823
Pre/ace
My major objective in putting together this volume on the reproductive endocrinology
and psychobiology of the hamster was to fill a growing gap in the scientific literature.
The only previous book devoted entirely to the hamster (The Golden Hamster: Its Biology
and Use in Medical Research, edited by Hoffman, Robinson, and Magalhaes, and pub
lished by the Iowa State University Press) appeared in 1968 and dealt with topics such
as anatomy, genetics, reproduction, hematology, virology, parasitology, and neo
plasms. It is clear that a great deal of research on the reproduction and behavior of the
hamster has been performed during the past two decades. In fact, a recent computer
search of Psychological Abstracts since 1968 showed a near linear increase in the number of
hamster citations per year.
The contributors to this volume are familiar with the reproductive endocrinology
and reproductive and nonreproductive behavior of the hamster and share a high degree
of respect for and a certain loyalty to the species. Particular scientific and meth
odological reasons for choosing the hamster for research can be found in many of the
chapters. The topics chosen for discussion reflect areas of experimentation in which the
hamster has been extensively studied. This book is potentially useful to those already
investigating the hamster, to those studying similar topics in other species, and to those
considering alternative research areas or species.
The book is divided into four sections. The first section consists of a historical
account by Michael Murphy of the origins of the hamster as a laboratory species from its
initial capture to its subsequent domestication. The second section covers reproductive
endocrinology and includes chapters on the estrous cycle by Robert Lisk, pregnancy by
Gilbert Greenwald, the endocrinology of the male by Andrzej Bartke, and the pineal by
Russel Reiter, who is the only author to have contributed to both the 1968 volume and
the present volume.
The third division discusses social behavior and begins with a chapter on commu
nication by Robert Johnston. This is followed by a chapter on sexual differentiation by
Lynwood Clemens and Jeffrey Witcher and then by separate chapters on female and
male sexual behavior by Sue Carter and myself, respectively. The remaining topics
include parental and aggressive behavior written by me and the neural basis of re
productive behavior by Charles Malsbury, Mario Miceli, and Charles Scouten.
vii
viii PREFACE
The final section consists of a chapter on development by Thomas Schoenfeld and
Christiana Leonard and three chapters devoted to functions of individuals. These in
clude biological rhythms by Lawrence Morin, energy balance by Katarina Borer, and
the visual and somatosensory systems by Barbara Finlay and Claire Berian.
I am extremely delighted and proud to have played a role in this work and I wish
to thank each contributor, Plenum Press (especially Kirk Jensen), Jay Rosenblatt, and
the Rutgers University Research Council. In addition, I extend my thanks and my love
to my family-Marilyn, Matt, Paul, Scott, and my mother and father, who taught me
to appreciate animals.
Harold I. Siegel
Newark, New Jersey
Contents
0/
I. Origin the Hamster
Chapter 1
History of the Capture and Domestication of the Syrian Golden Hamster (Mesocricetus auratus
Waterhouse)
MICHAEL R. MURPHY
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. The Early Years: Discovery and Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3. On the Road to Jerusalem: Capture and Breeding ................... 7
4. The Invasion of America: Dissemination and Proliferation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5. New Genes on the Line: A Reconnaissance Expedition to Aleppo ....... 17
6. Conclusion ................................................. 18
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
II. Reproductive Endocrinology
Chapter 2
The Estrous Cycle
ROBERT D. LISK
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2. Sexual Maturation-The First Estrous Cycle ....................... 24
2.1. The Ovary ............................................. 26
2.2. The Pituitary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
2.3. The Brain ............................................. 31
3. Follicle Maturation and Ovulation ............................... 33
3.1. Time of Ovulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
3.2. Ovarian Steroids and Ovulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
IX
x CONTENTS
3.3. Role of the Nervous System in Ovulation ..................... 37
3.4. Linkage of Sexual Receptivity with Ovulation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
4. The Luteal Phase ............................................ 42
4. l. Pseudopregnancy ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
5. Seasonal Anestrus ............................................ 43
6. Conclusions.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Chapter 3
Endocrinology of the Pregnant Hamster
GILBERT S. GREENWALD
1. Copulatory Behavior in the Estrous Hamster ....................... 53
2. Pseudopregnancy in the Hamster .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
3. Pregnancy in the Hamster-General Considerations ................. 56
3.l. Fetal, Placental, and Ovarian Weights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
3.2. Number of Follicles Greater than 415 J.L in Diameter ............ 60
3.3. Induction of Ovulation in the Pregnant Hamster by 20 IU HCG .. 60
3.4. Growth and Regression of the Corpus Luteum ................. 60
4. Peripheral Steroid and Peptide Serum Hormone Levels in the Pregnant
Hamster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
4. l. Progestins ............................................. 61
4.2. Estrogens.............................................. 63
5. Peptide Hormones during Hamster Pregnancy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
6. Luteotropic Complex of the Pregnant Hamster ..................... 65
References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Chapter 4
Male Hamster Reproductive Endocrinology
ANDRZEJ BAR TKE
l. Sexual Maturation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
2. Endocrine Function in the Adult Male. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
3. Aging..................................................... 78
4. Seasonal Changes ............................................ 78
4.1. Photoperiod-induced Testicular Regression .................... 78
4.2. Photoperiod-induced and Spontaneous Testicular Recrudescence 85
4.3. Hormonal Mechanisms of Seasonal Changes in Reproductive
Function .............................................. 87
5. Typical Hormone Values ...................................... 91
References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
CONTENTS Xl
Chapter 5
Pineal-Reproductive Interactions
RUSSEL J. REITER
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
2. Pineal Morphology ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
3. Pineal Melatonin Synthesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
3. l. Photoperiodic Influences .................................. 10 1
3.2. Endocrine Influences ..................................... 103
3.3. Influence of Age ........................................ 104
4. Photoperiod, Pineal, and Reproduction ........................... 104
4. l. Males . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
4.2. Females ............................................... 105
5. Pineal Hormones ............................................ 107
5. 1. Indoles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
5.2. Polypeptides ........................................... 109
6. Pineal and Seasonal Reproduction ............................... 110
6. l. Inhibition Phase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III
6.2. Sexually Quiescent Phase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
6.3. Restoration Phase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
6.4. Sexually Active Phase .................................... 112
7. Melatonin and the Seasonal Reproductive Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
8. Sites of Action of Pineal Hormones .............................. 113
8. l. Neuroendocrine Axis ..................................... 114
8.2. Gonads and Accessory Sex Glands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
9. Concluding Remarks ......................................... 114
References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Ill. Social Behaviors
Chapter 6
Communication
ROBERT E. JOHNSTON
l. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
2. Postures Used during Social Interactions .......................... 121
2. l. Do the Dark Chest Bars Have a Communicatory Significance? ..... 128
3. Auditory Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
3. 1. Sonic Signals ........................................... 129
3.2. Ultrasonic Calling and Communication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
3.3. Ultrasounds and Echolocation .............................. l32