EFFECTS OF CASTRATION AND SUBSEQUENT ANDROGEN ADMINISTRATION UPON MATING BEHAVIOR IN THE MALE HAMSTER (CRICETUS AURATUS)1

Abstract

Within 2 weeks after castration there was a marked decrease in the number of males achieving intromission when placed with a receptive female, and at the end of the first postoperative month only 1 or 2 of the 19 animals penetrated the female in any given testing period. However, some hamsters continued to display occasional intromissions as long as 3 months after gonadectomy. The avg. frequency of intromissions per male per test was reduced 2 weeks after operation,and within 1 mo. penetration was achieved only 2 or 3 times during a 15-min. test. Before operation 40 or more intromissions usually took place in the same length of time. Incomplete copulations not leading to intromission occurred before and after castration. This type of response survived with little change for 6 weeks after removal of the testes. The speed with which sexual contact was initiated decreased as a result of castration. Normal mating responses were restored in 5 castrates by androgen treatment which began 3 months after the operation.