Copulatory behavior, reproduction, and sperm competition in two strains of male rats

Long-Evans males fathered 72% of the offspring when one Long-Evans and one F344 male mated repeatedly with the same female throughout her estrus. When each male was restricted to one ejaculation and the second male was allowed to begin mating immediately following the first male's ejaculation, the second male left more offspring in each strain. However, the proportion was significantly greater for Long-Evans males. In contrast, there were no strain differences in either number of pregnancies or litter size in noncompetitive matings limited to two ejaculations, the minimal number required to induce pregnancy. The only consistent behavioral differences were the greater number of intromissions performed with shorter latencies by F344 males, differences that cannot readily be used to explain their reduced success. It was hypothesized that the two strains may differ in the adequacy of penile reflexes used to form, set, or dislodge sperm plugs.