Sexual behavior primates

Rats that have lost dopamine and/or serotonin terminals following treatment with amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, MDA, / -chloroamphetamine, or fenfluramine show little in the way of overt ehanges in appearanee or behavior. Dr. Rieaurte (this volume) emphasized the need for more studies in primates, since MPTP-treated miee also show little in the way of observable functional changes, whereas MPTP-treated monkeys show marked neurologie deficits. It may be neeessary to do more detailed analysis of speeifie behaviors and other funetional outputs that are influeneed by dopamine and/or serotonin neurons, to detect functional deficits induced by some neurotoxic drugs. For instance, specific behaviors sueh as appetite-eontrolled behavior (Leibowitz and Shor-Posner 1986), murieidal behavior (Katz 1980), and sexual behavior (Tucker and File 1983) elieited by drugs... 

Removal of the adrenal gland, and thus adrenal androgens, has been associated with an inhibition of sexual behavior in both humans and primates. In addition, in primates exogenous androgens, but not estrogens, reportedly reversed the effects of adrenalectomy. Exogenous androgen treatments reportedly can facilitate sexual responses in women (Sherwin, 1996). 

In primates, effects can be complex. Female cotton-top tamarins, Saguinus o. oedipus, require three conditions to start sexual behavior and ovarian cyclicity. These are release from the suppression by their mother, release from suppression by other family members, and direct contact with, or stimulation by, an unfamiliar male (Widowski etal, 1990). 

Wallen K (2005) Hormonal influences on sexually differentiated behavior in nonhuman primates. Front Neuroendocrinol 26 7-26. 

Volatile constituents associated with female urine and/or vaginal discharge often increase male and female sexual activity (271-279). Urinary marking of the environment is also an important feature of rodent and primate behavior (270, 280, 281). The compounds found in the urine of males and females generally vary with the breeding season or with the physiological status of the females this has been observed in the ram (274), red fox (282), the goat (283, 284), and the wolf (285). 

Keverne, E.B., J.A. Eberhart, and R.E. Meller Plasma Testosterone, Sexual and Aggressive Behavior in Social Groups of Talapoin Monkeys. In H.S. Steklis and A.S. Klug eds. Hormones and Drugs in Social behavior of Primates, p. 33-59. New York Spectrum. 1983. 

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