DEVELOPMENT OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN MALE GUINEA PIGS FROM GENETICALLY DIFFERENT STOCKS UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS OF ANDROGEN TREATMENT AND CAGING1

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The differential responsiveness of male guinea pigs to testosterone propionate (t.p.) as measured by their sexual behavior (Grunt and Young, 1952) is attributed in part to the influence of early experience on the organization of sexual behavior patterns (Valenstein, Riss and Young 1955; Valenstein and Young, 1955). These patterns differ however in males from genetically different strains (Valenstein, Riss and Young, 1954). It appeared likely therefore that genetic as well as experiential factors contribute to the organization of these patterns and therefore to the responsiveness to t.p. The point was checked in the present experiment in which the responses of different genetic strains to t.p. were studied and in which the influence of early experience was controlled. Opportunity was also provided to ascertain if the testes are necessary for the organization of sexual behavior patterns (Valenstein, Riss and Young, 1955) and to compare the schedules of development of sexual behavior in genetically different strains.