FEMALE SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR IS INHIBITED BY SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM FOOD RESTRICTION

In female musk shrews, sexual receptivity is not restricted to the per iovulatory period. Several copulatory bouts that occur over a number o f days are required to induce the first ovulation. We tested the hypot hesis that food restriction would have a minimal impact on female musk shrew sexual behavior because mating behavior may be uncoupled from o vulation in this species. Three testing conditions were used. Ln the f irst study, food-restricted. females were maintained at their weaning day weight for 17 days. Food restriction resulted in a significant red uction in the number of females that allowed males to mount, intromit, or ejaculate compared with ad rib-fed controls. In the second experim ent, sexually experienced females that were food-restricted for 2 week s also displayed reduced sexual behavior compared to that in ad lib-fe d controls. In the last study, we examined the effects of short-term f ood fluctuations on sexual behavior. Females food-restricted for 48 h showed reduced mating behavior compared to that in ad rib-fed controls . This was reversed after 24 h of refeeding. These studies show that, even under conditions where copulation does not lead to pregnancy, sma ll reductions in food availability can inhibit female sexual behavior. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.