Female reproductive behaviour, ovarian hormones and vaginal cytology of the induced ovulator, Ctenomys talarum

Abstract

In the present study, we evaluated whether reproductive condition affects female reproductive behaviour in the induced ovulator Ctenomys talarum. We also explored the effect of the interaction with a male on the reproductive condition of females. To evaluate this, we arranged mating trials and evaluated female reproductive behaviour. Reproductive status of females was evaluated using a combined approach of vaginal smears, urinary progesterone and oestradiol, and ovarian histology. Behaviours denoting attraction ('male sniff' and 'mount attempts') and mutual courtship behaviours ('spin' and copula) were correlated with vaginal cytology before and oestradiol and progesterone levels in urine 12 h after malefemale encounter. After 24 h of the interaction, oestradiol levels and vaginal epithelization increased while progesterone levels decreased in soliciting females. C. talarum females' reproductive behaviour was related to its physiological reproductive state and vaginal cytology. The kind of male interaction, whether couples copulated or remained indifferent affected the later status of females. Females are induced ovulators by mating but male presence and interaction also affected other components of their reproductive physiology such as ovarian hormones and vaginal cytology.

When allowed, females prefer novel males in the polygynous subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum (tuco-tuco)

“…hormonal levels). Male presence and interaction with females affect hormone levels (progesterone and oestradiol) and vaginal cytology but follicular development is not stimulated (Fanjul and Zenuto, 2012). DNA fingerprinting analyses suggest that C. talarum is polygynous (Zenuto et al, 1999a), and consistent with genetic data, males are bigger than females (Zenuto et al, 1999b).…”

Pattern of ovulation in an ancient, solitary mole-rat lineage:Heliophobius argenteocinereus eminifrom Tanzania

“…xenophobic behaviours that are characteristic of these species to be relaxed (Bennett and Jarvis 1988;Narins et al 1992;Fanjul and Zenuto 2012;Katandukila and Bennett 2016).…”

“…Penile spines are found in other species of the family Bathyergidae, including B. suillus and G. capensis (Parag et al 2006). Other subterranean rodents possessing penile spines include the blind mole-rat, Spalax ehrenbergi (Shanas et al 1995), the tuco tuco, C. talarum (Fanjul and Zenuto 2012) al. 2004) have small protrusions at the apex of their glans, an ornamentation that may play the same role as penile spines (Malherbe et al 2004;Jackson et al 2005;Parag et al 2006).…”

Seasonal variations in plasma cortisol, testosterone, progesterone and leukocyte profiles in a wild population of tuco‐tucos

“…The increased response reported here for reproductive females could be related to regulatory interactions between the HPA axis and oestrogens (Handa et al ., ). Mated females of C. talarum showed higher oestradiol levels than females that were indifferent to males under conditions of captivity (Fanjul & Zenuto, ). If oestradiol levels are also increased in reproductive females under field conditions that may account for higher cortisol secretion (see Handa et al ., ).…”