Hormonal regulation of courtship behavior in the urodele amphibian

已知，垂体前叶激素催乳素(PRL)和垂体后叶激素精氨酸血管生成素(AVT)在雄性食蟹求偶行为的表达中起着重要作用。在本研究中，我们通过器官培养技术证明PRL具有AVT释放活性，并上调AVT前体基因的表达。根据血管加压素V1a受体拮抗剂的报告基因分析结果和AVT V1a型受体在Newt脑中的定位，推测AVT V1a型受体是AVT诱导的求爱行为中最重要的受体之一。

It is known that anterior pituitary hormone prolactin(PRL) and posterior pituitary hormone arginine vasotocin(AVT) play important roles in the expression of courtship behavior of the male newt Cynops pyrrhogaster. In this study, we demonstrated that PRL has AVT releasing activity by the organ culture technique and up-regulates the expression of AVT precursor gene. Judging from the result of reporter gene assay using vasopressin V1a receptor antagonist and the localization of AVT V1a-type receptor in the newt brain, it was concluded that the AVT V1a-type receptor is one of the most important receptor in the courtship behavior induced by AVT.