Vasotocin and reproductive functions of the domestic chicken

The neurohypophyseal hormone arginine vasotocin (AVT) combines both antidiuretic and reproductive activities. In the domestic chicken AVT produces assimetric effects on the reproductive functions of males and females. AVT synthesized in magnocellular diencephalic neurons is released into circulation...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Domestic animal endocrinology 2003-07, Vol.25 (1), p.93-99
Main Authors: Jurkevich, A., Grossmann, R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
animal reproduction
Animals
arginine vasotocin
Behavior
brain
Brain - physiology
Chicken
chickens
Chickens - physiology
Female
gender differences
hormonal regulation
limbic system
Male
oviposition
Oviposition - physiology
posterior pituitary
Reproduction
Reproduction - physiology
reproductive behavior
Sex Characteristics
sexual behavior
Sexual Behavior, Animal - physiology
sexual development
sexual dimorphism
Vasotocin
Vasotocin - physiology
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Summary:The neurohypophyseal hormone arginine vasotocin (AVT) combines both antidiuretic and reproductive activities. In the domestic chicken AVT produces assimetric effects on the reproductive functions of males and females. AVT synthesized in magnocellular diencephalic neurons is released into circulation in a highly coordinated manner contributing to the peripheral control of oviposition in hens. Conversely, parvocellular AVT cells located in the limbic system (bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BST)) are quite different in their properties and, possible, functions. In domestic chickens these cells express AVT in a sexually dimorphic manner and are found solely in males. This sexually dimorphic part of the AVT system is sensitive to gonadal steroids. Experimental data demonstrated that AVT modulates different aspects of reproductive behavior including courtship vocalization and copulation. Sexual differentiation of these limbic vasotocinergic cells show striking correlation with sexual differentiation of masculine behavior. Evidences coming from physiological, anatomical and ethological studies suggest strong implication of the vasotocinergic system in the control of reproductive functions.
ISSN:0739-7240
1879-0054
DOI:10.1016/S0739-7240(03)00048-1