Animal Mating Research Articles

Polyandry and Polygyny in a Social Rodent: An Integrative Perspective Based on Social Organization, Copulations, and Genetics

Animal mating systems have fascinated biologists for thousands of years. Accurate descriptions of mating systems are nonetheless elusive, because social organization can be difficult to quantify, documentation of copulations is often challenging, many copulations do not produce offspring, and genetic assignments of parentage are usually expensive. From a 7-year study of colonial white-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys leucurus) living under natural conditions in Colorado USA, we estimated the frequencies of polyandry (i.e., copulation with >2 males) and polygyny (i.e., copulation with >2 females) from three independent approaches: (1) determination of the number of males and females living in the same territory (social organization); (2) observations of copulations; and (3) genetic assignments of paternity from seven polymorphic microsatellites. For polyandry, behavioral observations and genetics indicate similar overall percentages (27%), but social organization indicates a much lower percentage (2%). For polygyny, behavioral observations indicate the highest overall percentage (84%), then social organization (59%), then genetics (46%). All three approaches show striking annual variation in the frequencies of polyandry and polygyny. Long-term studies that integrate behavioral and genetic insights provide a detailed view of a mating system, but feasibility will depend on ease of capture, visibility of copulations, length of mating season, research objectives, genetic variation, and finances.

Neurostore: A Novel Cryopreserving Medium for Primary Neurons.

Primary neuronal culture from rodents is a key tool in neurobiology. However, the preparation of primary cultures requires precise planning, starting from animal mating. Furthermore, each preparation generates a high amount of cells that eventually go wasted. The possibility to cryopreserve primary neural cells represents a resource for in vitro studies and significantly reduces the sacrifice of animals. Here we describe that Neurostore buffer supports the cryopreservation of primary neurons.

Rarity of Size-Assortative Mating in Animals: Assessing the Evidence with Anuran Amphibians.

Assortative mating in animals can have substantial evolutionary impact. Numerous reports also make it appear to be pervasive in occurrence. In assortative mating, defined here in behavioral terms, animals select their mates according to a particular shared trait such that mated individuals phenotypically resemble each other more than expected by chance. Body size is a widely studied assortment trait. This is especially relevant for anuran amphibians (frogs and toads), among whom reproductive advantages may accrue to large individuals of both sexes. Anurans also exhibit discrete forms of male mating behavior. Sedentary calling behavior of "sitters" allows for female choice, whereas fighting for possession of mates by "scramblers" precludes female choice. Size-assortative mating in anurans should therefore be a property of sitters, not scramblers. I used meta-analysis to assess the occurrence of true size-assortative mating in relation to mating behavior and other variables in 282 studies of 68 species of anurans. I found publication bias against reporting nonsignificant results and analytical bias resulting from pooling of samples collected at different times or places (Simpson's paradox). Pooled samples significantly inflated the apparent occurrence and strength of size-assortative mating. Controlling for such biases left little credible evidence for size-assortative mating behavior in any anurans. Instead, large-male advantage among scramblers was associated with a secondary pattern of concomitant nonrandom mating. In this disproportionate mating, neither sex behaves according to mate choice rules that could lead to consistently strong assortment. It should thus have relatively little evolutionary impact compared to true assortative mating.

The traditional livestock breeding practices of women and men Somali pastoralists: breeding management and beliefs on breeding issues

In Somalia, located in the horn of Africa and one of the world’s poorest countries, livestock are the mainstay of the economy. While strengthening the livestock sector is considered key to reduced poverty and increased food security, few studies have reported the livestock management practices of Somali pastoralists, including on breeding issues. Here, we present the final of a series of papers documenting the breeding practices of women and men Somali pastoralists for goat, sheep, camel and cattle. Data for the study were obtained by surveying 200 livestock-keeping households located within the Tog-Dheer region of Somaliland. The most important livestock species kept, in terms of contribution to household livelihood, were goats and sheep, followed by camel, then cattle. Migration with livestock was practiced by two-thirds of the households for some or all of the year, whereas other households were settled with their livestock. On breeding practices, the main means of acquiring breeding animals was by the animal being born into the herd, and varied means were used to control mating, including castration, culling, separation of male and female animals, purposeful mating of best males to best females, and controlling the size of mating groups. On beliefs on breeding issues, the pastoralists had a varied understanding of whether specific livestock traits were influenced by genetics, environment, or a combination of both, and most could not articulate the basis of inheritance. Knowledge of inbreeding was poor, with almost all respondents indicating they did not consider the mating of related animals to be problematic. Additionally, some pastoralists tried to influence the sex of the livestock progeny born through various practices. Overall, the finding presented here and in the companion studies (Marshall et al. 2014, 2016) indicated that the women and men Somali pastoralists generally employ sound breeding practices, although there is room for capacity building such as on inbreeding.

Thermoregulatory Requirements Shape Mating Opportunities of Male Proboscis Bats

The spatiotemporal distribution of females is a major factor affecting animal social systems. Predation risk and the distribution of feeding resources often determine where females are found, but abiotic factors (e.g. temperature) can also shape the distribution of females and therefore variation in social organization and mating systems. Given the predicted future changes in climatic variation, it is vital to understand how animal mating systems and the sexual selection process may be altered by temperature. In bats, female distribution is tightly linked to roosting ecology and particularly to the microclimatic conditions at the roost. Proboscis bats (Rhynchonycteris naso) form cohesive and stable multi-male-multi-female groups and inhabit exposed day roosts (e.g. tree trunks, vines, buildings). Strong selection to remain inconspicuous to visually oriented predators in the exposed day roosts has been suggested to promote a rather rare male mating strategy termed site-specific dominance where males defend females directly but are successful in doing so only in their own territory. The choice of open-roost structures can result in the bats roosting under direct sunlight, making individuals susceptible to overheating. Here we investigate whether regular relocations of R. naso social groups among male territories are a mechanism of behavioral thermoregulation. Our results suggest that in general R. naso choose the warmest suitable roost sites within a roost, possibly to minimize the energetic costs of thermoregulation. However, on days with high midday temperatures at the primary roost site, bats commonly relocate to alternative, cooler sites within their roosts. These thermoregulatory relocations entail that a social group regularly switches among the territories of several males. Thus, the need for behavioral thermoregulation determines the spatial distribution of females and shapes the mating opportunities of males during the day. This is supported by our result that territorial males defending primary roost sites are reproductively more successful than territorial males of alternate roost sites. In line with other studies, our findings suggest that the increase in ambient temperatures associated with climate change has the potential to affect the intensity of sexual selection in bat species and may have far-reaching behavioral, demographic and evolutionary consequences for their populations.

The unexpected genetic mating system of the red-backed toadlet (Pseudophryne coriacea): A species with prolonged terrestrial breeding and cryptic reproductive behaviour.

Molecular technologies have revolutionized our classification of animal mating systems, yet we still know very little about the genetic mating systems of many vertebrate groups. It is widely believed that anuran amphibians have the highest reproductive diversity of all vertebrates, yet genetic mating systems have been studied in <1% of all described species. Here, we use single nucleotide polymorphisms to quantify the genetic mating system of the terrestrial breeding red-backed toadlet Pseudophryne coriacea. In this species, breeding is prolonged (approximately 5months), and males construct subterranean nests in which females deposit eggs. We predicted that females would display extreme sequential polyandry because this mating system has been reported in a closely related species (P.bibronii). Parentage analysis revealed that mating success was heavily skewed towards a subset of males (30.6% of potential sires) and that nearly all females (92.6%) mated with one male. In a high percentage of occupied nests (37.1%), the resident male was not the genetic sire, and very few nests (4.3%) contained clutches with multiple paternity. Unexpectedly, these results show that sequential polyandry is rare. They also show that there is a high frequency of nest takeover and extreme competition between males for nest sites, but that males rarely sneak matings. Genetic analysis also revealed introgressive hybridization between P.coriacea and the red-crowned toadlet (Pseudophryne australis). Our study demonstrates a high level of mating system complexity, and it shows that closely related anurans can vary dramatically in their genetic mating system.

Reconsidering territoriality is necessary for understanding Anolis mating systems

In a paper titled The erratic and contingent progression of research on territoriality: a case study (Kamath and Losos 2017, Behav Ecol Sociobiol 71:89), we sought to understand the inconsistency between behavioral and genetic descriptions of Anolis lizards’ mating system. We argued that “a potentially important reason for such inconsistencies is a research trajectory rooted in early studies that were equivocal and overreaching, followed by studies that accepted earlier conclusions at face value and assumed, rather than tested, key ideas about animal mating systems,” and demonstrated such a research trajectory in Anolis lizards. In their responses to our historical review, Bush and Simberloff (2018, Behav Ecol Sociobiol in press) and Stamps (2018, Behav Ecol Sociobiol in press) criticize the definition of territoriality we employed and de-emphasize the link between conceptions of territoriality and descriptions of mating systems in Anolis. Here, we respond by reiterating how our understandings of territoriality and of mating systems in Anolis and other animals have long been intertwined. Moreover, we argue that our definition of territoriality is precisely well suited to investigating mismatches between behavioral and genetic descriptions of mating systems.

The Human Vomeronasal (Jacobson's) Organ: A Short Review of Current Conceptions, With an English Translation of Potiquet's Original Text.

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a structure located in the anteroinferior portion of the nasal septum and is part of the accessory olfactory system. The VNO, together with its associated structures, has been shown to play a role in the formation of social and sexual behavior in animals, thanks to its pheromone receptor cells and the stimulating effect on the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. The VNO was first described as a structure by the Dutch botanist and anatomist Frederik Ruysch in 1703 while dissecting a young male cadaver. This finding, however, is widely contradicted due to no elaborate descriptions being made by the Ruysch. The description of the VNO is more widely attributed to the Danish surgeon Ludwig Jacobson, with whom the VNO has been synonymized, as in 1803 he described the structure in a variety of mammals. Whilst Jacobson extensively studied prior reports of the VNO, he publicly denied its existence in humans. Following these discoveries and some contradictory statements in 1891, M. Potiquet published one of the more influential reviews on the topic. To this day, despite the first report of the organ's existence being made in a human and many articles stating its presence and supporting its function, the presence of a VNO in humans is still widely debated upon.

Animal personality and behavioral syndromes in amphibians: a review of the evidence, experimental approaches, and implications for conservation

Animal personality and behavioral syndromes can have profound effects on individual fitness. Consequently, there is growing recognition that knowledge of these phenomena may assist with animal conservation. Here we review evidence for personality and behavioral syndromes in amphibians (the most threatened vertebrate class), critique experimental approaches, and explore whether knowledge in this domain might assist with endangered species management. Despite being a neglected field (research has spanned just 24 species), there is emerging evidence that frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts show personality and behavioral syndromes along three behavioral axes: boldness, exploration, and activity. Among vertebrates, amphibians are unique in having a biphasic lifecycle defined by metamorphosis and obvious transformations in morphology, physiology, and habitat use, characteristics that enable detailed examination of behavioral changes across life stages and ecological contexts. Accordingly, recent work has started to make important contributions to our understanding of the development and proximate causes of personality and behavioral syndromes, with some emerging evidence for ontogenetic stability, genetic control, and state-dependent personality. To date, however, no study has considered the conservation implications of personality for amphibians. Drawing on a conceptual framework and empirical literature for all vertebrates, we argue that there is considerable potential for knowledge of animal personality to improve amphibian conservation programs. We propose a novel paradigm to improve (i) the mating and reproductive success of captive animals by ensuring that breeding pairs are behaviorally compatible and (ii) the post-reintroduction survival and reproductive potential of animals by facilitating the selection of optimal behavioral types for release. Animal personality and behavioral syndromes appear to be widespread in nature. Here, we review animal personality and behavioral syndromes in amphibians, an understudied taxonomic group within the field. We summarize evidence, critique methodological approaches used, and emphasize that the unique behavioral ecology of amphibians makes them a model group for studying the proximate causes and ecological consequences of personality and behavioral syndromes. We also highlight that knowledge of these phenomena may have significant conservation implications for amphibian captive breeding and reintroduction programs.

The ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi regulates egg production via conspecific communication

BackgroundCommunication between individuals of the same species is an important aspect of mating and reproduction in most animals. In simultaneously hermaphroditic species with the ability to self-fertilize, communication with conspecifics can be essential to avoid inbreeding depression. One such behavioral adaptation observed in some simultaneous hermaphrodites is gamete trading. This behavior involves individual hermaphrodites in pairs alternating between reproducing as the male and female, and, as such, necessarily requires communication and coordination between mates. Little is known about communication in ctenophores and conspecific communication has not been described in this group; however, our previous work suggested that the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi might engage in gamete trading. We tested for this possibility by constructing divided arenas (both sealed and permeable) that allowed us to measure individual egg output for paired M. leidyi.ResultsWe found that, when not allowed to interact, size-matched individuals produced similar numbers of eggs on each side of the arena. However, if allowed to interact and exchange water, size-matched pairs produce significantly different numbers of eggs on each side of the arena, suggesting that these pairs use chemical communication to modulate reproduction in the presence of conspecifics as would be expected in gamete trading.ConclusionThis finding presents exciting new possibilities for future investigations into the nature of signaling in M. leidyi. Furthermore, this first evidence of conspecific communication in Ctenophora, a group that branched off from the rest of animals more than 600 million years ago, has significant implications for the signaling ability of the last common ancestor of all animals.

Combat in a cave-dwelling wētā (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) with exaggerated weaponry

Animals sometimes possess extraordinarily enlarged or specialized structures used as weaponry for intrasexual combat. The way in which an animal's mating system leads to the diversity of exaggerated armaments we see in nature is a matter of current and ongoing research. Central to this enquiry is the question of how animal weapons are involved in assessment: how, when and why is the decision made to retreat from a contest by combatants fighting over their future fertilization success? We investigated the agonistic role of highly elongated male hindlegs in an Orthopteran insect found in dense aggregations in New Zealand caves: the cave wētā, Pachyrhamma waitomoensis (Rhaphidophoridae). We found a large degree of sexual dimorphism in the hindlegs. In contests among males in the field, males with longer hindlegs were more likely to win contests, while body size did not influence contest outcome. We also assessed the influence of winner, loser and relative hindleg length on contest escalation, finding that fights among males with greater differences in leg length were resolved by less-escalated contests. In addition, the level of contest escalation was positively correlated with the loser's, but not the winner's, leg length, matching the predictions of self-only models of animal assessment.

Modeling strategic sperm allocation: Tailoring the predictions to the species.

Two major challenges exist when empirically testing the predictions of sperm allocation theory. First, the study species must adhere to the assumptions of the model being tested. Unfortunately, the common assumption of sperm allocation models that females mate a maximum of once or twice does not hold for many, if not most, multiply and sequentially mating animals. Second, a model's parameters, which dictate its predictions, must be measured in the study species. Common examples of such parameters, female mating frequency and sperm precedence patterns, are unknown for many species used in empirical tests. Here, we present a broadly applicable model, appropriate for multiply, sequentially mating animals, and test it in three species for which data on all the relevant parameter values are available. The model predicts that relative allocation to virgin females, compared to nonvirgins, depends on the interaction between female mating rate and the sperm precedence pattern: relative allocation to virgins increases with female mating rate under first-male precedence, while the opposite is true under later-male precedence. Our model is moderately successful in predicting actual allocation patterns in the three species, including a cricket in which we measured the parameter values and performed an empirical test of allocation.

Operational sex ratio predicts the opportunity and direction of sexual selection across animals.

The operational sex ratio (OSR) has long been assumed to be a key ecological factor determining the opportunity and direction of sexual selection. However, recent theoretical work has challenged this view, arguing that a biased OSR does not necessarily result in greater monopolisation of mates and therefore stronger sexual selection in the mate-limited sex. Hence, the role of the OSR for shaping animal mating systems remains a conundrum in sexual selection research. Here we took a meta-analytic approach to test whether OSR explains interspecific variation in sexual selection metrics across a broad range of animal taxa. Our results demonstrate that the OSR predicts the opportunity for sexual selection in males and the direction of sexual selection in terms of sex differences in both the opportunity for sexual selection and the Bateman gradient (i.e. the selection differential of mating success), as predicted by classic theory.

Masturbation to Orgasm Stimulates the Release of the Endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonoylglycerol in Humans

BackgroundEndocannabinoids are critical for rewarding behaviors such as eating, physical exercise, and social interaction. The role of endocannabinoids in mammalian sexual behavior has been suggested because of the influence of cannabinoid receptor agonists and antagonists on rodent sexual activity. However, the involvement of endocannabinoids in human sexual behavior has not been studied. AimTo investigate plasma endocannabinoid levels before and after masturbation in healthy male and female volunteers. OutcomesPlasma levels of the endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), anandamide, the endocannabinoid-like lipids oleoyl ethanolamide and palmitoyl ethanolamide, arachidonic acid, and cortisol before and after masturbation to orgasm. MethodsIn study 1, endocannabinoid and cortisol levels were measured before and after masturbation to orgasm. In study 2, masturbation to orgasm was compared with a control condition using a single-blinded, randomized, 2-session crossover design. ResultsIn study 1, masturbation to orgasm significantly increased plasma levels of the endocannabinoid 2-AG, whereas anandamide, oleoyl ethanolamide, palmitoyl ethanolamide, arachidonic acid, and cortisol levels were not altered. In study 2, only masturbation to orgasm, not the control condition, led to a significant increase in 2-AG levels. Interestingly, we also found a significant increase of oleoyl ethanolamide after masturbation to orgasm in study 2. Clinical TranslationEndocannabinoids might play an important role in the sexual response cycle, leading to possible implications for the understanding and treatment of sexual dysfunctions. Strengths and LimitationsWe found an increase of 2-AG through masturbation to orgasm in 2 studies including a single-blinded randomized design. The exact role of endocannabinoid release as part of the sexual response cycle and the biological significance of the finding should be studied further. Cannabis and other drug use and the attainment of orgasm were self-reported in the present study. ConclusionOur data indicate that the endocannabinoid 2-AG is involved in the human sexual response cycle and we hypothesize that 2-AG release plays a role in the rewarding consequences of sexual arousal and orgasm.Fuss J, Bindila L, Wiedemann K, et al. Masturbation to Orgasm Stimulates the Release of the Endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonoylglycerol in Humans. J Sex Med 2017;14:1372–1379.

076 Estimation of the effects of mutations causing complex vertebral malformation and brachyspina on milk production, milk composition, and fertility traits in Holstein Friesian dairy cattle

The frequencies of mutations with lethal effects are of significant economic importance in cattle production. The elimination or at least management of such mutations in the national breeding herd is a desirable objective; however, estimation of the potential pleiotropic effects on other traits of economic importance would ascertain if strategic matings of carrier animals would be advantageous. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to estimate the effects of 2 such lethal recessives, complex vertebral malformation (CVM) and brachyspina (BY), on milk and fertility traits in Holstein-Friesian dairy cattle. Complex vertebral malformation and BY SNP genotypes and phenotypes (expressed as predicted transmitting abilities [PTA]) on 10,707 dairy cows were obtained through the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation. The association between each SNP and deregressed PTA was analyzed in ASREML using a weighted mixed animal model. Only cows with an adjusted reliability of >10% were included in the analysis and included n = 6,876 for milk yield and composition traits and n = 1,193, n = 264, n = 4,566, n = 8,564, n = 152, and n = 2,380 cows for calving interval, survival, calving difficulty, gestation length, calf mortality, and maternal calving difficulty, respectively. Complex vertebral malformation (minor allele frequency of 1.7%) was associated with both increased milk protein (0.019 [SE 0.006]; P < 0.01) and increased milk fat concentration (0.039 [SE 0.0132]; P < 0.01) whereas no associations (P > 0.05) were observed between CVM and any of the other milk traits (milk yield, milk fat yield, and milk protein yield) or fertility traits (calving interval, survival, calving difficulty, gestation length, calf mortality, and maternal calving difficulty). Significant associations were observed between BY (<1%) and decreased milk protein concentration (0.024 [SE 0.008]; P < 0.01) and increased milk yield (73.21 kg [SE 30.12]; P < 0.05). No associations (P > 0.05) were observed between BY and any of the fertility traits considered. These results provide additional evidence that carriers of these recessive mutations exhibit effects on milk production and/or composition in Holstein Friesian cattle, however, with no evidence of effects on the fertility traits examined. Cognizance and monitoring of the potential pleiotrophic effects of lethal recessives such as examined in this study will aid livestock breeders when considering elimination of carriers to minimize reduction of the genetic merit of farm enterprises and inform the benefits of strategic matings in controlling these mutations in the population while also sustaining productivity.

ВІДТВОРЮВАЛЬНА ЗДАТНІСТЬ САМОК САЙГАКА SAIGA TATARICA LINNAEUS, 1766 АСКАНІЙСЬКОЇ ПОПУЛЯЦІЇ

The reproductive ability indicators of saiga female under conditions of semi-free dwelling in southern Ukraine were studied. It has been defined that activation of ovogenesis of saiga females begins in summer months (July-August) and is determined by the growth of a significant number of follicles. Maturation of follicles in adult females is observed in late autumn and in winter, that indicates their readiness to mate. Animal mating occurs in the short term within two or three weeks. The availability of pregnancy with enough simultaneous development of embryos and fetuses was surveyed in all females in winter-spring period. Activation of ovogenesis in young females begins later (October-November) than in adults, and is characterized by follicular development and oocytes’ maturation. Оnly a few well-developed females (up 20 %) reach puberty in 7–8-months, they become physiologically mature at 18–19 months of age. The indicators of reproductive females ability of Askanian saiga populations do not differ from similar parameters of this species of autochthonous populations. Some deviations in direction of terms of display of sexual activity are determined primarily by the climatic conditions and the availability of green fodder. The semi-free saiga dwelling at the large areas of Southern steppes and selective grazing of grasses promote normal functioning of all organs and systems, which ultimately determines its successful re-acclimatization.

Categorical Visual Score Traits of a Nellore Beef Cattle Population

Variance components and genetic parameters of economically relevant traits in livestock, whether continuous or categorical, can be estimated by methods computationally available providing support for the selection and mating of animals in breeding programs. The objectives of this paper were to obtain and compare the variance components estimates for visual traits under continuous or categorical distribution in single-trait analysis and their correlations with continuous productive traits in two-trait analysis. Data of conformation (CONF), precocity of fat deposition (PREC) and muscling (MUSC) visual scores evaluated at 18 months of age as well as the weight at 18 months of age (YW) were collected from animals born from 2000 to 2012, in Nellore cattle herds raised in Southeastern and Central Western tropical regions of Brazil. Methods III of Henderson, Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML), Bayesian Inference and generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) were tested. Variance components obtained from single-trait analysis were similar to those obtained from two-trait analysis. The estimates of heritability (h2) for the visual scores ranged from 0.1081 to 0.2190. Heritability estimates for traits evaluated by visual scores have moderate to high magnitude justifying the inclusion of visual scores as selection criteria in animal breeding and the selection of animals with higher scores for mating. High genetic correlations between yearling weight and morphological traits were verified. For visual scores of conformation, precocity and muscling, the most suitable model based on one-trait or two-trait analyses considered an animal model, a linear distribution of the data and the estimation method of the components of (co)variance based on Bayesian methodology.

Preweaning Calf Survival of a Nellore Beef Cattle Population

The preweaning calf survival (SW) is one of the main economic bottlenecks of beef cattle rearing systems, however there is still few quantitative studies approaching this issue. Being a binary trait, genetic parameters for SW can be estimated considering continuous or categorical data under frequentist and Bayesian methods providing support for the selection and mating of animals in breeding programs. Therefore, the objectives in this study were to obtain and compare the variance component estimates for preweaning calf survival of calves in single-trait analyses and their correlations with a continuous trait in two-trait analyses. An amount of 25 218 data of the categorical trait of calf survival until weaning (SW) and the continuous trait of weaning weight (WW) were collected between the years of 2000 and 2012 in six herds of Nellore cattle. Methods III of Henderson, Maximum Restricted Likelihood (REML), Bayesian Inference and Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) were tested. Variance components obtained in one-trait analyses were similar to those obtained in two-trait analyses. Estimates of heritability (h2) obtained with different models for SW ranged from 0.0206 to 0.2644. The comparison between different estimation methods in single or two-trait analysis models allows the conclusion that the most appropriate method for SW analysis was the Bayesian estimation under an animal model and assuming linear distribution for phenotypes of SW trait.

Anti asthmatic effect of Momordica Charantia and its comparison with montelukast an in vitro and in vivo model

Background: Momordica charantia (MC) (bitter gourd) have shown the inhibition of NF-κβ and Leukotrienes expression in many inflammatory pathological conditions. Based on ist anti-inflammatory action this study aimed to Identify MC fruit dry powder (MCp) and MC fresh juice (MCj) action on airway inflammation in Guinea Pig model and also to find out the presence of alkaloids and flavonoides.Methods: 18 adult Guinea pigs of both sexes (excluding mating animals) were randomly divided into three groups with six animals in each namely Montelukast, MCj and MCp groups respectively. They were given with OD oral administration of concerned drugs for 1 -7 days. 6 control animals were exposed to 2% histamine aerosol for 120 seconds using histamine chamber prior to treatment with Montelukast, MCj and MCp to observe the normal Pre-Convulsive Dyspnea (PCD) in seconds. After six hours of daily OD oral dose of test drugs administration, all the groups’ were exposed to 2% Histamine aerosol one by one for 120 sec on day1 &amp; 7 to observe PCD. The MCj and MCp were also tested with chemical assay, TLC to confirm the presence of alkaloids, flavonoides.Results: ON DAY 1 and 7: MCj and MCp showed significant decrease in PCD occurrence and it is statistically significant compared to the control. PCD blocking action of MCj group was effective in DAY 1. TLC and Chemical Assay were not supportive for bronchodilator action.Conclusions: MCj and MCp have promising preventive role in asthma. This study had expressed the positive protective role of Momordica charantia in asthmatic condition based on its known anti-inflammatory action.

The erratic and contingent progression of research on territoriality: a case study

Our understanding of animal mating systems has changed dramatically with the advent of molecular methods to determine individuals’ reproductive success. But why are older behavioral descriptions and newer genetic descriptions of mating systems often seemingly inconsistent? We argue that a potentially important reason for such inconsistencies is a research trajectory rooted in early studies that were equivocal and overreaching, followed by studies that accepted earlier conclusions at face value and assumed, rather than tested, key ideas about animal mating systems. We illustrate our argument using Anolis lizards, whose social behavior has been studied for nearly a century. A dominant view emerging from this behavioral research was that anoles display strict territorial polygyny, where females mate with just the one male in whose territory they reside. However, all genetic evidence suggests that females frequently mate with multiple males. We trace this mismatch to early studies that concluded that anoles are territorial based on limited data. Subsequent research assumed territoriality implicitly or explicitly, resulting in studies that were unlikely to uncover or consider important any evidence of anoles’ departures from strict territorial polygyny. Thus, descriptions of anole behavior were largely led away from predicting a pattern of female multiple mating. We end by considering the broader implications of such erratic trajectories for the study of animal mating systems and posit that precise definitions, renewed attention to natural history, and explicitly questioning assumptions made while collecting behavioral observations will allow us to move towards a fuller understanding of animal mating systems. Mismatches between behavioral and genetic descriptions of mating systems are widespread across animals. We argue that these discrepancies can arise from the erratic and contingent progression of research on space use behavior and social interactions. We demonstrate such a trajectory in Anolis lizards, where decades of behavioral data led not only to the conclusion that anoles are territorial but also to the erroneous expectation, disproven by genetic evidence, that each female mates with just one male. The earliest studies concluded that anoles are territorial based on flimsy evidence, leading subsequent studies to implicitly and explicitly assume territorial behavior; later studies were thus unlikely to detect, or consider important, departures from territoriality that could facilitate female multiple mating. Such research trajectories are likely not unique to anoles, and we contend that avoiding these trajectories requires renewed and continued attention to the natural history of even well-studied organisms.