Testosterone has been implicated in the production of courtship pheromones in various animals. It is hypothesized that testosterone also stimulates the production and/or release of any courtship pheromones in Xenopus laevis. Castrated male frogs were implanted with empty or testosterone(T)-filled Silastic capsules. The water from testosterone-treated frogs (C+ T) and castrated frogs with empty capsules (C) was pumped into a plastic Y-maze at a flow rate of 65 ml/min. A female frog placed in theY-maze was observed for a sixty minute trial period, and the movements and position of the female frog were recorded. A total of ten female frogs were put through four different combinations of water: C+T versus C water, C+T versus plain water, C versus plain water, and plain water versus plain water. Results of a paired T -test demonstrate that the female frogs preferred the water holding C+ T males over the water holding C males (p = 0.035). These preliminary results reveal that female frogs can discern the androgen status of males based solely upon water-born chemicals released by the males. This suggests that a testosterone-dependent courtship pheromone may be released by male X. laevis for the purpose of attracting females for mating.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:pacific.edu/oai:scholarlycommons.pacific.edu:uop_etds-3288 |
| Date | 01 January 1995 |
| Creators | Pascarelli, Erica S. |
| Publisher | Scholarly Commons |
| Source Sets | University of the Pacific |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations |
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