Meeting Abstract

P2.127  Tuesday, Jan. 5  Activity, but not mating behavior is suppressed by an acute stressor in male and female Ocoee salamanders. LACY, E.L..*; WOODLEY, S.K.; Mars Hill College; Duquesne University elacy@mhc.edu

Chronic stress has clear suppressive effects on reproductive hormones and mating behavior. The effects of acute stressors on reproductive hormones and mating behavior have been less studied. Further, behavioral responses to acute stressors include species and perhaps context-specific changes in mating behavior and activity. Few studies have examined these two classes of behavior in a single species, using the same acute stress paradigm. It is well-known that confinement stress rapidly and significantly suppresses male mating behaviors in rough-skinned newts. Suppression is due to release of glucocorticoid hormones that act through a nonclassical receptor mechanism. It is unknown whether the suppression of mating behavior by acute stress is restricted to newts, or whether it is a widespread response. We determined whether handling stress suppressed mating behavior and individual activity in the Ocoee salamander (Desmognathus ocoee). Mating behavior was observed for a duration of 5.5 hrs, beginning 35 minutes after the onset of the handling stressor. Overall, 88% of the pairs mated. There was no effect of handling stress on the latency to various stages of courtship or female insemination. We also examined activity in animals alone in testing chambers and found that females were more active than males and handling stress strongly reduced activity in both sexes. Plasma CORT was elevated in animals bled at 30 and 60 minutes after handling compared to baseline. Plasma testosterone in males, but not estradiol in females, was significantly reduced after handling compared to controls. Thus, handling stress suppressed activity, but did not suppress mating behaviors despite eliciting elevated plasma corticosterone and reduced testosterone.