Activation of sexual and aggressive behavior by androgen implanted into the male ring dove brain

Abstract

The site of action of androgen in the activation of sexual and aggressive behavior in castrate male ring doves was investigated by means of intracerebral implantation of testosterone propionate (TP). Pellet TP implants (large TP surface) area and 22, 25, and 27 gauge hypodermic tubing TP implants (surface area equal to cross sectional area of lumen) had a range of effectiveness that was inversely correlated with their surface areas. Bilateral 27 guage implants proved most effective in localization of activational sites. Most 27 gauge implants in the anterior hypothalamic-preoptic area activated sexual and aggressive behavior, but those in the preoptic area proper were particularly effective, w No distinction between the activation of copulatory, courtship, or aggressive behavior according to the location of the implants could be found. Thus these behaviors were considered to be controlled by a common neuroendocrine activational mechanism in this species. © 1971 by The Endocrine Society.