Lordosis in the male golden hamster elicited by manual stimulation: Characteristics and hormonal sensitivity.

Abstract

Conducted 5 experiments with a total of 31 male and 14 female golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). The lordosis response was regularly elicited from 24 intact, adult male Ss, using manual somatosensory stimulation of the dorsal rear body. There was no correlation between measures of male-typical behavior and lordosis. Castration had no effect on male lordosis duration scores even when intromissions were eliminated. Combined treatment with estradiol benzoate and progesterone significantly increased male lordosis duration scores. The body surface was mapped with a standardized brush stimulus. For eliciting lordosis, effectiveness of stimulation increased in an almost identical manner for hormone-primed males and females from the anterior to the posterior part of the body, with the stimulation of flanks, rump, and perineum the most effective. Within each skin zone, absolute effectiveness was greater in females than in males. Various types of somatosensory stimulation were compared for their effectiveness in eliciting lordosis. Females were more responsive to these stimuli than males, even when males were hormonally primed. Data have implications for concepts of the neural organization of male- and female-typical mating responses existing within the same individual. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)