ABSTRACT
Durante los últimos años en Chile se ha detectado una masificación en el uso de anticonceptivos orales. Sin embargo, en Chile y al igual que en casi todos los países latinoamericanos prácticamente no se han investigado sus implicancias sobre la conducta humana. Específicamente, este estudio evaluó el impacto del uso de estos anticonceptivos sobre la conducta de emparejamiento en un grupo de 164 mujeres jóvenes universitarias, con una media de edad igual a 19 años y provenientes de cuatro universidades chilenas. Para ello se utilizó la adaptación chilena del Cuestionario de Componentes del Valor de Pareja que está compuesto por 22 ítems que se responden en una escala Likert de siete valores. Los resultados señalan diferencias entre las mujeres que consumen píldoras anticonceptivas (PA) y las que no lo hacen. Las consumidoras presentan los mayores valores del índice general del cuestionario sobre los componentes del valor de pareja y las subescalas de historia de relaciones de pareja, apreciación desde el sexo opuesto y apariencia. Estos resultados indican que las mujeres consumidoras de la PA se autoperciben y creen que el sexo contrario las evalúa como atractivas y muestran una vida sexual más diversificada, no mostrando diferencias en los otros aspectos relevantes para el valor de pareja no vinculados centralmente al atractivo físico. En definitiva, los resultados parecen indicar que el consumo de anticonceptivos hormonales no modifica la conducta social y parental de las mujeres, aunque su uso parece estar asociado con una mayor autopercepción de atractivo y mayor diversidad sexual.
Oral contraceptives, also known as birth control pills (PAs from now on), have been available on the world market for five decades. At present, the use of PA is massifier worldwide, being consumed by more than 100 million women on the planet. In recent years, in Latin America has been detected a dramatic increase in the use of oral contraceptives, and Chile is not the exception. In this sense, it is probable that the increase in the consumption of PAs in Chile is linked to the increase of women who decide to pursue higher studies and to develop professional careers. Concurrently, a wide field of research has been focused on the physiological and psychological effect of the consumption of oral contraceptives on human behavior, being mating behavior one of the main topics of research. However, in Chile as in most Latin American countries there is a lack of studies on the implications of the consumption of oral contraceptives on human behavior. In the present study, we investigated in a group of 164 university young women (Mean ± Standard Deviation: 19.27± 2.88 years) of Chile the impact of the use of oral contraceptives on mating behavior. Accordingly, we have applied a validated psychometric test to assessed mate value, one of the more relevant components of mating behavior i.e., the Mate Value Questionnaire. Mate value can be defined as a construct that incorporates a number of physical, psychological, and social dimensions that are related to an individual's ability to find, attract, and successfully retain a partner. This questionnaire is composed by 22 items and 7 subscales that are answered in a Likert Scale of 7 values. The Mate Value Questionnaire showed a high reliability (α = .85). According with previous studies that showed a decrease in sexual satisfaction and desire on women that consume oral contraceptives, we predicted a decrease of mating behavior and, then, a decrease on Mate Value for those women that use oral contraceptives. This effect was expected for all subscales of this questionnaire with the exception of relationship history subscale since women that consume oral contraceptives reported to have more diverse sexual partners on previous studies. The results show differences between women who use oral contraceptives (n = 87 women: 19.60 ± 2.89 years) in comparison to those who do not (n = women: 18.90 ± 2.84 years). However, the differences were, in general, opposed to our expectations being the consumers of oral contraceptives who presented the highest values of the general index of the Mate Value Questionnaire, and, concretely, for the subscales of relationship history, views of the opposite sex, and looks. In addition, we have failed into found any differences between groups in subscales that were not associated to physical appearance, such as wealth, sociality and fear of failure. The results suggest that the use of hormonal contraceptives does not modify the social and parental behavior of the women, although their use seems to be associated with a greater self-perception of attractiveness and greater diversity in sexual life. This study provides new information that will increase the understanding and discussion about the hypothetical effect that would or would not, the consumption of the PA on the pairing behavior. It is important to point out that the field of research on changes in the sexual preferences of women, derived from hormonal states, is in an important discussion process. Therefore, we believe that it is critical to carry out research in the future in order to elucidate the real robustness of this phenomenon, improving our understanding about the behavioral effects of consuming oral contraceptives.
ABSTRACT
Abstract Very little is known about the ecology and biology of Drymaeus tripictus, an extremely rare and endemic land snail species from Costa Rican highlands. I studied the ecology and reproductive biology of D. tripictus from April 2009 through June 2010 in an old forest, a young forest and a Cupressuslusitanica plantation in central Costa Rica. Every three months I visited each habitat and collected specimens in 20 random sampling plots (3x3 m2 each). I observed the snail's activity and microhabitat preference in the field, and in the laboratory I recorded high definition videos of its mating behavior and analyzed reproductive morphology with light microscopy. The snail is more abundant in the old forest (0.017 ind./m2) and prefers leaves with little epiphyllous cover (0-25 % cover, chi-square test, p <0.0001). During the dry season the snails become active between 20:00 pm and 8:00 am (chi-square = 22.65, df=3, p < 0.0001); they are inactive mainly during the afternoon (11:00 am to 16:59 pm). I found active individuals mostly on the upper side of leaves, where they feed (Chi-square =6.76, df=1, p = 0.0093). Mating is unilateral, by shell mounting, with cryptic phallus intromission and without role switching or multiple mating. Its reproductive system is morphologically similar to that of Drymaeus costaricensis. Mating behavior is as expected for snails with high-spired shells, except for the lack of role switching. The density of D. tripictus is low even when compared with other endangered bulimulids. Rev. Biol. Trop. 64 (1): 55-68. Epub 2016 March 01.
ResumenSe conoce muy poco sobre la ecología y biología del caracol terrestre Drymaeus tripictus. Se trata de una especie extremadamente escasa y endémica de las zonas altas de Costa Rica. Estudié la ecología y biología reproductiva de D. tripictus de abril 2009 a junio 2010 en un bosque maduro, un bosque jóven y una plantación de Cupressus lusitanica en Costa Rica. Cada tres meses visité esos hábitats y recolecté especímenes en 20 puntos de muestreo (cada uno de 3x3 m2). Estudié actividad y preferencias de hábitat en la naturaleza. En el laboratorio grabé en alta definición el comportamiento de apareamiento y analicé la morfología reproductiva con un microscopio estereoscópico de luz. El caracol es mas abundante en el bosque maduro (0.017 ind/m2) y prefiere hojas con poca cobertura de epífilos (25% o menos de cobertura, chicuadrado, p < 0.0001). En la época seca, se activan entre las 8:00 pm y las 8:00 am principalmente (chi-cuadrado = 22.65, p <0.0001). En la tarde se inactivan (11:00 am to 16:59 pm). Los individuos activos se encuentran principalmente en el haz de las hojas (Chi-square =6.76, df =1, p = 0.0093), que es donde se alimentan. El apareamiento es unilateral por "montaje de concha", no hacen cambio de roles sexuales y la intromisión fálica es críptica. Su sistema reproductivo es morfológicamente similar al de Drymaeus costarricensis. El comportamiento de apareamiento es como se espera de un caracol de concha con espira alta, excepto por la ausencia de cambio de roles. La densidad de D. tripictus es mas baja que la de otros bulimulidos considerados en peligro.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Female , Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology , Snails/physiology , Reproduction/physiology , Snails/classification , Tropical Climate , Costa RicaABSTRACT
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Panax ginseng extract standardized with ginsenoside Rg3 (PGRg3) on the mating behavior of sexually active or inactive male rats treated with dopamine antagonists. Methodology: Animals were treated with PGRg3 (50,150 and 450mg/kgb.w) with or without dopamine antagonists. The penile erection, motor activity and stretching-yawning episode were evaluated in animals treated with PGRg3 alone or in combination with lisurode or SND 919. Testosterone and sperm counts were also evaluated in different treatment groups. Results: The results showed that (-) Eticlopride counteracted PGRg3-induced penile erection but not motor hyperactivity. PGRg3 treatment enhanced lisuride-induced behavioral effects. Moreover, PGRg3 plus SND 919 showed a marked stretching-yawning behavior compared to the animals received SND 919 alone. PGRg3 also succeeded to increase testosterone level and sperm count in a dose dependent fashion. Conclusion: It could be concluded that DAD2 receptors are involved in PGRg3-induced mating behavior and testicular function improvement. PGRg3 could be used to improve sexual function and mating behavior in people suffering from erectile dysfunction.
ABSTRACT
We observed the mating behavior of the neck-banded snake Scaphiodontophis annulatus (a common species of colubrid in the South Pacific of Costa Rica) in the pre-montane wet forest of Las Cruces Biological Station (San Vito de Java, Costa Rica). Three S. annulatus were observed during courtship between 10-12 AM in a patch of primary forest. The two males were observed to interact with the female, but not signs of male-male agonistic interactions were observed. Their behavior includes grabbing and holding the female, copula, and biting during the copula.
El comportamiento de apareamiento es descrito para la serpiente Scaphiodontophis annulatus, una especie de colúbrido común en el Pacífico sur de Costa Rica. El comportamiento incluye capturar y sujetar a la hembra, mordiscos durante la cópula y coito. Dos machos fueron observados al interactuar con una sola hembra, pero no se detectó señales de interacciones antagónicas macho-macho.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Female , Colubridae/physiology , Sexual Behavior, Animal/physiology , Courtship , Sex Characteristics , Copulation/physiology , Costa Rica , Observation , Mating Preference, Animal/physiologyABSTRACT
Objective To study the mating behaviour and mode of Oncomelania hupensis hupensis. Methods The mature snail, Oncomelania hupensis hupensis was observed under light microscopy, and all the course of the copulation behavior was recorded. Results Oncomelania hupensis hupensis's copulation behavior included calling and mating. There were two basic types of mating behaviour inclouding four subtypes. Conclusion The mating behavior and mode of Oncomelania hupensis hupensis are described.