Gonadotropin antagonist modulates courtship behavior in male red-sided garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis

Behavioral studies were used to investigate the central effects of chicken-I GnRH, chicken-II GnRH, and D-Phe2,6,Pro3-GnRH, a GnRH antagonist, on the courtship behavior of male red-sided garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections of chicken-I or chicken-II GnRH had no effect on time spent courting or latency to court when experimental males were exposed to unmated females, or when experimental males were exposed to the female sex attractiveness pheromone. I.c.v. injections of D-Phe2,6,Pro3-GnRH caused a significant decrease in latency to court when experimental males were exposed to unmated females. When males injected with D-Phe2,6,Pro3-GnRH were exposed to the female sex attractiveness pheromone, it caused a significant increase in time spent courting compared to that in saline-injected controls. D-Phe2,6,Pro3-GnRH was not able to initiate courtship behavior during the nonbreeding season, indicating that courtship behavior is dependent on the interaction of multiple components. This study does demonstrate that a hormone or neuropeptide can modulate sexual behavior in garter snakes.