We are studying the social influences on reproductive suppression and reproductive maturation in Callitrichid monkeys. We have developed and validated several urinary hormonal assays that correlate well with serum values. We can use these noninvasive techniques to monitor reproductive hormones in freely moving monkeys. We will extend these techniques to fecal assays and to urinary testosterone and prolactin assays. These assays will then be used in several behavioral studies. To examine how reproductive females inhibit ovulation in subordinate females we will present females removed form family groups and housed adjacent to novel males with scent marks or urine from their mothers or from novel females in comparison with controls to see if either marks or urine can delay ovulation. The onset of ovulation appears to require visual, auditory and airborne olfactory stimulation from a novel male, and the role of these stimuli will be examined further. Estrone and LH values drop in pre- reproductive females upon the birth of new infants in the group. Behavioral and hormonal observations from prior to birth through the period when infants are carried by other family members will examine the mechanism of this additional suppression. Although females living with a reproductive female do not ovulate, some hormonal activity appears related to dominance. When the dominant daughter is removed from a group, we follow the hormonal and behavioral changes in the remaining daughters to see if we can predict which female will show increased hormonal activity. Comparative data indicate that marmosets have different mechanisms of suppression from tamarins. We will study mechanisms of suppression in pygmy marmosets to see if daughters ovulate while with their mothers. Little attention has been given to male reproductive development in tamarins. We will use the testosterone assay in combination with behavioral observations to see if suppression of sexual behavior in subordinate males is physiological, behavioral, or a combination of both. Finally, we examine the role of prolactin in promoting communal infant care. Are changes in prolactin levels a cause or a consequence of infant care? These studies taken together will increase our understanding of the ontogeny of reproductive behavior and of the variety of social influences on reproduction in marmosets and tamarins.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01MH035215-09A2
Application #
3375636
Study Section
Psychobiology and Behavior Review Committee (PYB)
Project Start
1982-09-28
Project End
1996-04-30
Budget Start
1992-05-01
Budget End
1993-04-30
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
Storey, Anne E; Ziegler, Toni E (2016) Primate paternal care: Interactions between biology and social experience. Horm Behav 77:260-71
Snowdon, Charles T; Ziegler, Toni E (2015) Variation in prolactin is related to variation in sexual behavior and contact affiliation. PLoS One 10:e0120650
Saltzman, W; Ziegler, T E (2014) Functional significance of hormonal changes in mammalian fathers. J Neuroendocrinol 26:685-96
Ziegler, Toni E (2013) Social effects via olfactory sensory stimuli on reproductive function and dysfunction in cooperative breeding marmosets and tamarins. Am J Primatol 75:202-11
Shukan, Evan T; Boe, Carla Y; Hasenfus, Aimee V et al. (2012) Normal hematologic and serum biochemical values of cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus). J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 51:150-4
Snowdon, Charles T; Tannenbaum, Pamela L; Schultz-Darken, Nancy J et al. (2011) Conditioned sexual arousal in a nonhuman primate. Horm Behav 59:696-701
Snowdon, Charles T; Pieper, Bridget A; Boe, Carla Y et al. (2010) Variation in oxytocin is related to variation in affiliative behavior in monogamous, pairbonded tamarins. Horm Behav 58:614-8
Ziegler, Toni E; Prudom, Shelley L; Zahed, Sofia R (2009) Variations in male parenting behavior and physiology in the common marmoset. Am J Hum Biol 21:739-44
Almond, Rosamunde E A; Ziegler, Toni E; Snowdon, Charles T (2008) Changes in prolactin and glucocorticoid levels in cotton-top tamarin fathers during their mate's pregnancy: the effect of infants and paternal experience. Am J Primatol 70:560-5
Snowdon, Charles T; Cronin, Katherine A (2007) Cooperative breeders do cooperate. Behav Processes 76:138-41

Showing the most recent 10 out of 40 publications