The red‐sided garter snake exhibits a dissociated reproductive pattern, mating at a time when their gonads are quiescent and circulating sex steroids, initially reported to be low, have been found to be elevated during the breeding season. However, the only cue identified that initiates courtship behavior and mating in the red‐sided garter snake is an extended period of low‐temperature dormancy (LTD) followed by exposure to warm temperatures. In this study, we examined a possible association between winter dormancy, sex steroid hormone metabolism, and initiation of reproductive behavior in the male red‐sided garter snake. Upon emergence from winter dormancy, courtship behavior was assessed using attractive females as stimuli. Animals receiving implants containing 1,4,6‐androstatriene‐3,17‐dione (ATD), an aromatase inhibiter, showed little or no courtship behavior, while animals implanted with ATD + 17β estradiol (E₂) or blank implants exhibited normal courtship. In addition, neurons in the pathways critical in the control of reproductive behavior were examined using the Golgi method. Examination of brains collected upon emergence revealed animals implanted with ATD had a significantly reduced number of dendritic spines compared to controls and animals treated with ATD + E₂. This study provides the first documentation that courtship behavior and mating in the male red‐sided garter snake appears to be controlled not by LTD alone, but in conjunction with sex steroid hormones. Moreover, behavioral data suggest that the aromatization of androgens during LTD appears to be critical for the initiation of reproductive behavior in the male red‐sided garter snakes.

中文翻译：

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雄性红袜带蛇的求爱取决于冬季休眠期间的神经芳香酶活性。

红袜带蛇表现出分离的繁殖方式，在它们的性腺处于静止状态时交配，最初发现其循环性类固醇含量低，在繁殖季节被发现升高。但是，唯一能引发求爱行为并在红袜带蛇中交配的线索是长时间的低温休眠（LTD），然后暴露于温暖的温度。在这项研究中，我们研究了冬季休眠，性类固醇激素代谢与雄性红袜带蛇的生殖行为开始之间的可能联系。冬季休眠后，使用迷人的女性作为刺激因素来评估求爱行为。接受含有1,4,6-雄甾烯-3,17-二酮（ATD）（一种芳香酶抑制剂）的植入物的动物，₂）或空白植入物表现出正常的求爱欲。另外，使用高尔基体方法检查了对控制生殖行为至关重要的途径中的神经元。检查出现的大脑后发现，与对照组和接受ATD + E ₂处理的动物相比，植入ATD的动物的树突棘数量明显减少。这项研究提供了第一份文献，表明雄性红袜带蛇的求爱行为和交配似乎并非仅由LTD控制，而是与性类固醇激素一起控制。此外，行为数据表明，LTD期间雄激素的芳香化对于启动雄性红袜带蛇的生殖行为至关重要。