Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Circadian rhythms of testosterone-dependent behaviors, crowing and locomotor activity, in male Japanese quail

  • Published:
Journal of Comparative Physiology A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

An apparatus was devised to record crowing (mate calling by males) together with locomotor activity and recorded data was analyzed by several methods for rhythm analysis. Crowing and locomotor activity of Japanese quail held on long days were recorded during sexual development as estimated from circulating gonadotropins and testosterone. Both behaviors were testosterone-dependent but commencement of crowing preceded the increase in locomotor activity. When the two behaviors attained their maximum levels, crowing showed consistent daily rhythms in which two peaks were apparent, a major one at the onset of light and a broader one 8 hours later. Locomotor activity also showed a clear daily rhythm with a peak between the two peaks of crowing rhythm suggesting a fixed phase relationship between the two rhythms.

Both rhythms free-ran under constant dim light with periods shorter than 24 h. They persisted in birds which had been castrated and then supplied with exogenous testosterone via implanted Silastic capsules. The durations of both rhythms were quite comparable to each other and they maintained a fixed phase relationship similar to that found under LD cycles.

The results indicate that testosterone is essential for the induction of crowing and for the enhancement of locomotor activity but the formation of the rhythms in behavior was strictly dependent on a circadian oscillatory mechanism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

LH :

luteinizing hormone

FHS :

follicle-stimulating hormone

LD :

light-dark

LDim :

light-dim light

References

  • Adkins EK, Adler NT (1972) Hormonal control of behavior in the Japanese quail. J Comp Physiol Psychol 81:27–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnold AP, Nottebohm F, Pfaff DW (1976) Hormone concentrating cells in vocal control and other areas of the brain of the zebra finch (Poephila guttata). J Comp Neurol 165:487–512

    Google Scholar 

  • Aschoff J (ed) (1981) Biological rhythms (Handbook of behavioral neurobiology, vol 4). Plenum, New York London

    Google Scholar 

  • Barfield RJ (1969) Activation of copulatory behavior by androgen implanted into the preoptic area of the male fowl. Horm Behav 1:37–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Barfield RJ (1971) Activation of sexual and aggressive behavior by androgen implanted into the male ring dove brain. Endocrinology 89:1470–1476

    Google Scholar 

  • Barfield RJ, Ronay G, Pfaff DW (1978) Autoradiographic localization of androgen-concentrating cells in the brain of the male domestic fowl. Neuroendocrinology 26:297–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Balthazart J (1983) Hormonal correlates of behavior. In: Farner DS, King JR, Parkes KC (eds) Avian biology, vol 7. Academic Press, New York, pp 221–365

    Google Scholar 

  • Beach FA, Inmann NG (1965) Effects of castration and androgen replacement on mating in male quail. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 54:1426–1431

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen J, Cheng M-F (1982) Effects of testosterone metabolites and estrogen in the midbrain control of courtship behavior in the male ring dove (Streptopelia risoria). Neuroendocrinology 34:64–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Daan S, Aschoff J (1975) Circadian rhythms of locomotor activity in captive birds and mammals: their variations with season and latitude. Oecologia 18:269–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebihara S, Kawamura H (1981) The role of the pineal organ and the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the control of circadian locomotor rhythms in the Java sparrow,Padda orizivora. J Comp Physiol 141:207–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebihara S, Uchiyama K, Oshima I (1984) Circadian organization in the pigeon,Columba livia: the role of the pineal organ and the eye. J Comp Physiol A 154:59–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Enright JT (1981) Data analysis. In: Aschoff J (ed) Handbook of Behavioral Neurobiology, vol 4. Biological rhythms. Plenum, New York London, pp 21–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner JA, Fisher AE (1968) Induction of mating in male chicks following preoptic implantation of androgen. Physiol Behav 3:709–712

    Google Scholar 

  • Guyomarc'h JC, Thiboult E (1969) Rythmes et cycles dans l'émission du chant chez la caille Japonaise (Coturnix c. j.). Rev Comportment Anim 3:37–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Gwinner E (1974) Testosterone induces splitting of circadian locomotor activity rhythms in birds. Science 185:72–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Gwinner E (1975) Effects of season and external testosterone on the freerunning circadian activity rhythm of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). J Comp Physiol 103:315–328

    Google Scholar 

  • Hattori M, Wakabayashi K (1979) Isoelectric focusing and gel filtration studies on the heterogeneity of avian pituitary luteinizing hormone. Gen Comp Endocrinol 39:215–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchison JB (1971) Effects of hypothalamic implants of gonadal steroids on courtship behaviour in Barbary dove (Streptopelia risoria). J Endocrinol 50:97–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim YS, Stumpf WE, Sar M, Martinez-Vegas MC (1980) Estrogen and androgen target cells in the brain of fishes, reptiles and birds: phylogeny and ontogeny. Am Zool 18:425–433

    Google Scholar 

  • Martinez-Vegas MC, Stumpf WE, Sar M (1976) Anatomical distribution of estrogen target cells in the avian CNS: a comparison with the mamalian CNS. J Comp Neurol 167:83–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Nottebohm F, Stokes TM, Leonard M (1976) Central control of song in the canary. J Comp Neurol 165:457–486

    Google Scholar 

  • Ottinger MA (1983) Sexual behavior and endocrine changes during reproductive maturation and aging in the avian male. In: Balthazart J, Proves E, Gilles R (eds) Hormones and behavior in higher vertebrates. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York Tokyo, pp 350–367

    Google Scholar 

  • Ottinger MA, Brinkley HJ (1978) Testosterone and sex-related behavior and morphology: Relationship during maturation and in the adult Japanese quail. Horm Behav 11:175–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Ottinger MA, Schleidt WM, Russek E (1982) Daily patterns in courtship and mating behavior in the male Japanese quail. Behav Proc 7:223–233

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips RE, Barfield RJ (1977) Effects of testosterone implants in midbrain vocal areas of capons. Brain Res 122:378–381

    Google Scholar 

  • Pittendrigh CS, Daan S (1976) A functional analysis of circadian pacemakers in nocturnal rodents V. Pacemaker structure: A clock for all seasons. J Comp Physiol 106:333–355

    Google Scholar 

  • Potash LM (1974) An experimental analysis of the use of localization calls by Japanese quail,Coturnix coturnix japonica. Behaviour 54:153–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakai H, Ishii S (1983) Radioimmunoassay of avian FSH. In: Mikami S, Homma K, Wada M (eds) Avian endocrinology: environmental and ecological perspectives. Jpn Sci Soc, Tokyo/Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York Tokyo, pp 125–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson SM, Follett BK (1981) Pineal and hypothalamic pacemaker: Their role in regulating circadian rhythmicity in Japanese quail. J Comp Physiol 144:381–389

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson SM, Follett BK (1982) Formal properties of the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity in Japanese quail. J Comp Physiol 145:391–398

    Google Scholar 

  • Szafarczyk A, Boissin J, Nougier-Soule J, Assenmacher I (1978) Effects of ahemal environmental properties on the rhythms of adrenocortical and locomotor functions in rats and Japanese quail. In: Assenmacher I, Farner DS (eds) Environmental endocrinology. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 182–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi J, Menaker M (1982) Roles of the suprachiasmatic nuclei in the circadian system of the house sparrow,Passer domesticus. J Neurosci 2:815–828

    Google Scholar 

  • Turek FW, Gwinner E (1982) Role of hormones in the circadian organization of vertebrates. In: Aschoff J, Daan S, Groos GA (eds) Vertebrate circadian system, Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 173–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Underwood H, Binkley S, Siopes T, Mosher K (1984) Melatonin rhythms in the eyes, pineal bodies, and blood of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Gen Comp Endocrinol 56:70–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Wada M (1981) Effects of photostimulation, castration, and testosterone replacement on daily patterns of calling and locomotor activity in Japanese quail. Horm Behav 15:270–281

    Google Scholar 

  • Wada M (1982) Effects of sex steroids on calling, locomotor activity, and sexual behavior in castrated male Japanese quail. Horm Behav 16:147–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Wada M (1984) Effects of ventricularly implanted sex steroids on calling and locomotor activity in castrated male Japanese quail. Horm Behav 18:130–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Wingfield JC, Farner DS (1980) Control of seasonal reproduction in temperate-zone birds. In: Hubinont PO (ed) Prog Reprod Biol, vol 5. Karger, Basel, pp 62–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Zigmond RE, Nottebohm F, Pfaff DW (1973) Androgen-concentrating cells in the midbrain of a songbird. Science 179:1005–1007

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Education, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Kohnodai, Ichikawa-shi, 272, Chiba, Japan

    Masaru Wada

Authors
  1. Masaru Wada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wada, M. Circadian rhythms of testosterone-dependent behaviors, crowing and locomotor activity, in male Japanese quail. J. Comp. Physiol. 158, 17–25 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00614516

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00614516

Keywords

Search

Navigation