4. HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
239
between gonadal hormones to behavior and the relationship of the same
hormones to the genital tracts. The similarities were noted during investigations of the role of testosterone propionate in the patterning of mating
behavior in the guinea pig (33). They are discussed by Young (9, 329)
and mentioned elsewhere in the present survey (Section IX). These
responses of the fetal Wolffian ducts and neural tissues to androgens, and
the responses of the adult female genital tract and neural tissues in some
species to estrogen and progesterone are additional examples of the
diverse uses to which hormones have been put. Within these tissues
differentiation and organization, secretion, myometrial contraction, and
stimulation leading to the expression of behavior are effects of the same
hormones. In this place it would be appropriate to designate biochemical
mechanisms by means of which these diverse end results are attained.
Instead, we can only be reminded of the words of Boscott (134) in his
general considerations on the mode of action of estrogens. The ability of
estrogens to stimulate a wide variety of biochemical changes within the
target tissues, he writes, makes it difficult to arrive at a unitarian mode
of action. Many of the changes are related to growth processes and may
therefore be common with the changes observed in growing tissues.
Other changes may correspond to certain of the biochemical side effects
of drug action cited by Knox et al. (441). Apropos of these alternatives,
and for any phyletic level, it is difficult to think of the cumulative
effect of androgens on the behavior of castrated males, and the estrogen
or estrogen-progesterone-induced behavior in females as results of a
"growth" process in the nerve cells which mediate this behavior. This
difficulty may be a reason for looking at the second possibility proposed
by Boscott (134) for the explanation students of the problem are seeking
to obtain.
References
J. L. G. Browman, /. Exptl Zool 75, 375-388 (1937).
la. R. D. Lisk, Can. J. Biochem. Physiol. 38, 1381-1383 (1960).
2. F. A. Beach, "Hormones and Behavior." Harper (Hoeber), New York, 1948.
3. M. Bleuler and W. A. Stoll, in "The Adrenocortical Hormones" (H. W.
Deane, ed.), pp. 638-659. Springer, Berlin, 1962.
4. Ν. E. Collias, in "Steroid Hormones" (E. S. Gordon, ed.), pp. 277-329. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wisconsin, 1950.
5. E. Eisner, Animal Behav. 8, 155-179 (1960).
6. J. L. Hampson and J. G. Hampson, in "Sex and Internal Secretions" (W. C.
Young, ed.), 3rd ed., pp. 1401-1432. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, Maryland, 1961.
7. D. S. Lehrman, in "Sex and Internal Secretions" (W. C. Young, ed.), 3rd ed.,
pp. 1268-1382. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, Maryland, 1961.
8. J. Money, in "Sex and Internal Secretions" (W. C. Young, ed.), 3rd ed., pp.
1383-1400. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, Maryland, 1961.
239
between gonadal hormones to behavior and the relationship of the same
hormones to the genital tracts. The similarities were noted during investigations of the role of testosterone propionate in the patterning of mating
behavior in the guinea pig (33). They are discussed by Young (9, 329)
and mentioned elsewhere in the present survey (Section IX). These
responses of the fetal Wolffian ducts and neural tissues to androgens, and
the responses of the adult female genital tract and neural tissues in some
species to estrogen and progesterone are additional examples of the
diverse uses to which hormones have been put. Within these tissues
differentiation and organization, secretion, myometrial contraction, and
stimulation leading to the expression of behavior are effects of the same
hormones. In this place it would be appropriate to designate biochemical
mechanisms by means of which these diverse end results are attained.
Instead, we can only be reminded of the words of Boscott (134) in his
general considerations on the mode of action of estrogens. The ability of
estrogens to stimulate a wide variety of biochemical changes within the
target tissues, he writes, makes it difficult to arrive at a unitarian mode
of action. Many of the changes are related to growth processes and may
therefore be common with the changes observed in growing tissues.
Other changes may correspond to certain of the biochemical side effects
of drug action cited by Knox et al. (441). Apropos of these alternatives,
and for any phyletic level, it is difficult to think of the cumulative
effect of androgens on the behavior of castrated males, and the estrogen
or estrogen-progesterone-induced behavior in females as results of a
"growth" process in the nerve cells which mediate this behavior. This
difficulty may be a reason for looking at the second possibility proposed
by Boscott (134) for the explanation students of the problem are seeking
to obtain.
References
J. L. G. Browman, /. Exptl Zool 75, 375-388 (1937).
la. R. D. Lisk, Can. J. Biochem. Physiol. 38, 1381-1383 (1960).
2. F. A. Beach, "Hormones and Behavior." Harper (Hoeber), New York, 1948.
3. M. Bleuler and W. A. Stoll, in "The Adrenocortical Hormones" (H. W.
Deane, ed.), pp. 638-659. Springer, Berlin, 1962.
4. Ν. E. Collias, in "Steroid Hormones" (E. S. Gordon, ed.), pp. 277-329. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wisconsin, 1950.
5. E. Eisner, Animal Behav. 8, 155-179 (1960).
6. J. L. Hampson and J. G. Hampson, in "Sex and Internal Secretions" (W. C.
Young, ed.), 3rd ed., pp. 1401-1432. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, Maryland, 1961.
7. D. S. Lehrman, in "Sex and Internal Secretions" (W. C. Young, ed.), 3rd ed.,
pp. 1268-1382. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, Maryland, 1961.
8. J. Money, in "Sex and Internal Secretions" (W. C. Young, ed.), 3rd ed., pp.
1383-1400. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, Maryland, 1961.