Description | Paul Faure, PhD Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University Steroid Hormone Transfer in Cohabitating Big Brown Bats Steroid hormones can act as pheromones in mammals. For example, male mice are capable of transmitting 17β-estradiol (E2), the most potent mammalian estrogen, to the neural and peripheral tissues of cohabitating female mice, and the hormone transfer influences female sexual behavior and reproduction. Although most research focuses on the effect of male urinary steroids on female sexual behavior and physiology, steroid transfer between female mice has also been documented and may influence the estrus cycle. Work from my lab has shown that steroid hormones can transfer from male-to-female big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) and thus act as pheromones during the fall mating season. Dr. Faure will review this work and present data from more recent studies with bats quantifying the potential for both E2 and progesterone (P4) to transfer between female conspecifics. Progesterone influences female sexual behavior and the growth of the endometrium in preparation for ovum implantation, but has rarely been investigated in a pheromonal context. Temperate insectivorous bats may be ideal models for research on the use of steroids as pheromones because many bats live in highly social, sexually-competitive harems, and are regularly exposed to the secretions of conspecifics within the confines of their day roosts This lecture is made possible in part by a generous Endowment by the family of Allen. L. Edwards . |
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