| Title: | X-ray kinematics analysis of vaginal scent marking in female Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) |
| Author(s): | Been LE; Bauman JM; Petrulis A; Chang YH; |
| Address: | "Georgia State University, Neuroscience Institute, 100 Piedmont Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA. lbeen1@student.gsu.edu" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.11.007 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1873-507X (Electronic) 0031-9384 (Print) 0031-9384 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Vaginal marking is a stereotyped scent marking behavior in female Syrian hamsters used to attract male hamsters for mating. Although the modulation of vaginal marking by hormones and odors is well understood, the motor control of this proceptive reproductive behavior remains unknown. Therefore, we used X-ray videography to visualize individual bone movements during vaginal marking. Kinematic analyses revealed several consistent motor patterns of vaginal marking. Despite exhibiting a diversity of trial-to-trial non-marking behaviors (e.g. locomotor stepping), we found that lowering and raising the pelvis consistently corresponded with coordinated flexion and extension cycles of the hip, knee, and tail, suggesting that these movements are fundamental to vaginal marking behavior. Surprisingly, we observed only small changes in the angles of the pelvic and sacral regions, suggesting previous reports of pelvic rotation during vaginal marking may need to be reconsidered. From these kinematic data, we inferred that vaginal marking is primarily due to the actions of hip and knee extensor muscles of the trailing leg working against gravity to support the weight of the animal as it controls the descent of the pelvis to the ground. The cutaneous trunci muscle likely mediates the characteristic flexion of the tail. Interestingly, this tail movement occurred on the same time scale as the joint kinematics suggesting possible synergistic recruitment of these muscle groups. These data therefore provide new targets for future studies examining the peripheral control of female reproductive behaviors" |
| Keywords: | "*Animal Communication Animals Biomechanical Phenomena/*physiology Bone and Bones/*physiology Cricetinae Female Mesocricetus Pheromones/*physiology Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology Vagina/*metabolism *X-Rays;Neuroscience;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineBeen, Laura E Bauman, Jay M Petrulis, Aras Chang, Young-Hui eng MH072930/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R01 MH072930-04/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R21 AR054760-01/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/ R01 MH072930/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R21 AR054760/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/ AR054760/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2011/12/06 Physiol Behav. 2012 Feb 28; 105(4):1021-7. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.11.007. Epub 2011 Dec 2" |
