Abstract

EMERICK, Lucas L. et al. Sexual behavior of Nellore males subjected to vomeronasal organ blockade. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2022, vol.45, n.3, pp.61-70.  Epub Aug 25, 2022. ISSN 0871-018X.  https://doi.org/10.19084/rca.25848.

This work aimed to associate sexual behavior with serum testosterone and the height of sensitive epithelium of vomeronasal organ (VNO) of Nellore bulls raised extensively and subjected to the VNO blocking during pre-puberty. Thirty-four bulls were divided into three groups. G1 (control group; n = 11): animals were kept intact; G2 (n = 10): animals had their incisive ducts bilaterally cauterized; G3 (n = 13): animals were bilaterally orchy-epiectomized. Five libido tests and blood sampling were performed in three months intervals from pre-puberty until sexual maturity. VNO were collected for histological evaluations by sacrificing the bulls weighting 480 kg. The experiment was conducted in a complete randomized design. No differences in libido among groups were observed in the first three tests. Attempt to mount, complete mount and the libido score increased at the fourth libido test only for the G1. Scenting and licking increased while the Flehmen reflex (FR) decreased at the fifth libido test for G2 and G3. Positive association between the FR and VNO sensitive epithelium height in G2 was observed. The olfactory stimuli entrance in the VNO is influenced by the Flehmen reflex, and that such organ plays a key role in the libido of Nellore bulls.

Keywords : Flehmen reflex; olfactory stimuli; sexual experience; zebu cattle.

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