Beyond aggression: Androgen-receptor blockade modulates social interaction in wild meerkats

In male vertebrates, androgens are inextricably linked to reproduction, social dominance, and aggression, often at the cost of paternal investment or prosociality. Testosterone is invoked to explain rank-related reproductive differences, but its role within a status class, particularly among subordinates, is underappreciated. Recent evidence, especially for monogamous and cooperatively breeding species, suggests broader androgenic mediation of adult social interaction. We explored the actions of androgens in subordinate, male members of a cooperatively breeding species, the meerkat (Suricata suricatta). Although male meerkats show no rank-related testosterone differences, subordinate helpers rarely reproduce. We blocked androgen receptors, in the field, by treating subordinate males with the antiandrogen, flutamide. We monitored androgen concentrations (via baseline serum and time-sequential fecal sampling) and recorded behavior within their groups (via focal observation). Relative to controls, flutamide-treated animals initiated less and received more high-intensity aggression (biting, threatening, feeding competition), engaged in more prosocial behavior (social sniffing, grooming, huddling), and less frequently initiated play or assumed a ‘dominant’ role during play, revealing significant androgenic effects across a broad range of social behavior. By contrast, guarding or vigilance and measures of olfactory and vocal communication in subordinate males appeared unaffected by flutamide treatment. Thus, androgens in male meerkat helpers are aligned with the traditional trade-off between promoting reproductive and aggressive behavior at a cost to affiliation. Our findings, based on rare endocrine manipulation in wild mammals, show a more pervasive role for androgens in adult social behavior than is often recognized, with possible relevance for understanding tradeoffs in cooperative systems

Cross-sectional study on the need to provide contraceptive services to women attending opioid-substitution therapy

Background: Women with opioid use disorders who have unintended pregnancies face unique challenges. A common strategy for preventing unintended pregnancies among these women is to increase their use of long acting reversible contraception (LARC), especially the implant and intrauterine device. This study aimed to assess the pregnancy history, contraceptive use and access to contraceptive services of women attending Cork-Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) for opioid replacement therapy. The need for a contraceptive service within the Addiction Services at CKCH was evaluated. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional survey administered by healthcare providers to 39 women, ages 18-50, attending CKCH for opioid replacement therapy. Descriptive statistics were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics Data Editor. Results: 79.5% of participants had unintended pregnancies, and 23% had 3 or more unintended pregnancies. Of the participants’ children, 35% lived with their mother, 37% lived in care, and 24% lived with another family member. 31% of participants reported never having used LARC. 18% of participants reported never having received information on pregnancy prevention and 21% reported never having received information on STI prevention. 92% of participants reported that they would use a contraceptive service if it were provided within the addiction services at CKCH. Conclusions: This study highlights the need to increase contraceptive services for women attending CKCH for opioid replacement therapy. Addiction services are ideal locations to also access contraceptive services because service-users already attend these clinics frequently for treatment, and thus have continuity of care with healthcare providers

Temporal features of social play in the laboratory rat

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