Hormonal control of male sexual behaviour in reptiles

The most important hormone affecting typical male sexual behavior in reptiles is testosterone, but also other steroid hormones such as dihydrotestosterone, estrogens or progestins may be involved in this regulation. According to the organizational-activational hypothesis testosterone acting during early ontogenic stage has an organizational effect on adult behavior and this behavior is triggered by influence of recent levels of hormones. Moreover, it was formulated the hypothesis on temporary organization of male sexual behvior that could change existing interpretations. Reptile reproductive strategies use to be classified according to gametogenesis and steroidogenesis as associated or dissociated reproductive strategies howerever, this division is rather artificial. This review summarizes existing knowledge of the hormonal influence of sexual behavior in reptiles, and comments the most common methods