HORMONAL INDUCTION OF MALE-LIKE COURTSHIP BEHAVIOR IN THE FEMALE NEWT, CYNOPS-PYRRHOGASTER

In the early stage of courtship, the sexually developed male newt (Cyn ops pyrrhogaster) vibrates its tail in front of the female. Administra tion of androgen and prolactin (PRL) to sexually inert male newts is k nown to elicit this behavior. The effects of ovariectomy and hormonal treatment on the induction of male-like tail vibration behavior were s tudied in female newts, which never show such behavior in an intact st ate. Ovariectomy elicited the behavior with a low incidence and freque ncy. Estradiol supplementation almost nullified the effect of ovariect omy. Treatment of ovariectomized females with a combination of testost erone propionate and PRL markedly increased the frequency of the behav ior.