The synergistic action of androgen and pituitary hormones involved in the expression of courtship behavior of urodele amphibian

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In the breeding season, sexually developed male newt Cynops pyrrhogaster vibrates its tail in front of the female partner at an early stage of courtship behavior. This behavior is elicited by several hormonal factors such as anterior pituitary hormone prolactin (PRL) and posterior pituitary hormone arginine vasotocin (AVT), and sex steroid hormone androgen. In particular, androgen is one of the crucial factors for expression of reproductive behavior. In this study, the detailed localization of androgen receptor (AR) in the central nervous system of sexually active male newt was analyzed by immunohistochemistry technique using the specific antibody against newt AR. AR-immunopositive cells were widely distributed throughout the brain including the various regions involved in the regulation of courtship behavior. The results obtained in this study serve the information for understanding the synergistic actions of androgen and other hormonal factors.