Sexual differences in the brain catecholamine content in four species of tropical bats

The catecholamines dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine were studied in the brains of male and female tropical bats of four species, with different feeding habits (insectivorous, frugivorous, omnivorous and pollen eater). They were trapped in a refuge at 18 degrees 24'24''N, 99 degrees 02'08''W with a mean annual temperature of 25.8 degrees C, in a tropical deciduous forest. The three catecholamines occur in both sexes of all four species, in levels which are statistically different among species as well as between sexes. Dopamine and norepinephrine levels were higher in males than females, but the opposite occurs with epinephrine. These findings suggest that changes in catecholamine levels are intimately involved in the reproductive pattern of the species studied.