Brain Changes Seen in Gay Sheep, U.S. Study Finds

reuters uk ^ | 3/8/04

[knak]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Researchers who found homosexual rams in a herd of sheep said they had found changes in the brains of the "gay" animals.

The results, published in the latest issue of the Journal Endocrinology, tend to support studies in humans that have found anatomical differences between the brains of heterosexual men and homosexual men.

The researchers at the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine found certain groups of brain cells were different between rams and ewes in a part of the sheep brain controlling sexual behavior.

And in rams that preferred to mate with other males, this area was smaller than in males that preferred females.

"There's a difference in the brain that is correlated with sexual partner preference rather than gender of the animal you're looking at," said Kay Larkin, an OHSU electron microscopist who worked on the study.

"This particular study, along with others, strongly suggests that sexual preference is biologically determined in animals, and possibly in humans," added Charles Roselli, a professor of physiology and pharmacology who led the research team.

"The hope is that the study of these brain differences will provide clues to the processes involved in the development of heterosexual, as well as homosexual behavior."

Animal experts have found that about 8 percent of domestic rams display preferences for other males as sexual partners.

"Same-sex attraction is widespread across many different species," said Roselli, who worked with a team at Oregon State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's U.S. Sheep Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho.

They looked at 27 adult, 4-year-old sheep of mixed Western breeds including eight male sheep that preferred to mate with females, nine that mated mostly with males and 10 ewes.

They found a densely packed cluster of nerve cells in the hypothalamus of the sheep brain, which they named the ovine sexually dimorphic nucleus or oSDN.

The hypothalamus regulates sex hormone secretion, blood pressure, body temperature, water balance, and food intake, and also helps regulate complex behaviors such as sexual behavior.

The oSDN in rams that preferred females was "significantly" larger and contained more neurons than in male-oriented rams and in ewes. There were also hormonal differences between the brains of homosexual and heterosexual sheep.

[MissAmericanPie]

I really wouldn't be suprised if the act did cause changes in the brain. The bible says they receive into their own bodies the just recompense for their actions. Perhaps these changes are what that scripture refers to.

[RichInOC]

Do you mean officiating over the marriage, or as one of the spouses?

[Quix]

There is still not clue about which comes first,

the chicken [poker] or the egg.

Is the smaller size a function of genetics or behavior more?

[Ophiucus]

Actually its the opposite, homosexaul behavior results in abnormality in the brain

Not quite. This study and others are following up on ground breaking research by Simon LeVay in the 90s. He showed that certain hypothalamic structures (part of the brain involved in controlling sexual function) were different in homosexual men when compared to heterosexual men and were closer to size and density to female hypothalami. In other animals, the structures are known as "sexually dimorphic nuclei." The development of these structures determine the sexual behavior.

In essence, there is a large portion of homosexual men that have a physiological developmental disorder - these brain structures failed to develop in the normal masculine pattern. They have a physiological defect.

There are homosexual men that have suffered sexual abuse and trauma at a young age and thus the homosexuality is a behavioral symptom from that abuse. These show normal brain structures but abnormal behavior. The problem is a psychological defect.

Thus a "cure" is problematic. A psychological cure will not correct a physiological defect and a treatment for the physiological defect will not cure a mental problem.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Queer sheep, it figures, birds of a feather et all.

[woofie]

It has also been found that the rams who wear ewes clothing have a higher incidence of sperm deprivation

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Me so horrrrnnnny.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Some dogs prefer to mate with pant legs,

[RikaStrom]

Sheep Lie

;-)

[ErnBatavia]

Ping (from Minnesota, where we are visiting the frozen tundra)

[shaggy eel]

,,, Minnesota is a long way to run to.

[Libloather]

Researchers who found homosexual rams in a herd of sheep said they had found changes in the brains of the "gay" animals.

When they find 'em, do they wish to be married?

This could be big...

[ThirstyMan]

homosexaul behavior results in abnormality in the brain

I believe you are correct. The abnormality is an effect rather than a cause.
Not surprising.
Similar brain studies done were reported on after Columbine irt the effects of playing violent video games. Violence was proven to cause a definite alteration, a "re-wiring", of the brain. It was in Newsweek.
But then again, Jesus told us that people will reap what they sow, but who wants to think it will happen them or their brain?
Our ignorance is great.

[bluefish]

Whenever the gay lobby pulls out this "other species" nonsense, I ask if studies have been done to demonstrate that other species also have a small minority of the population that preys on pups, babies, (whatever the appropriate term for the species in question). The answer is most likely yes. Doesn't make it right for a pedo to prey on kids, even if the desire is genetically driven. Likewise, acting out on homosexuality is not by detault, ok, if homosexuality is a genetic trait. One must still ask if the presence of the trait, or at least giving in to it, is good for society.

Certain diseases are inherited - genetics. Doesn't make the disease acceptable. We look for a cure. We don't have to hate the diseased, but we don't have to love the disease.

I don't care all that much what two men or two women do really. When they get in my face though, or try to push it on my kids as normal, encouraging them to try it, that is when I start to care.

[speedy]

Ah, now there was a year. Okay, no more barnyard puns. I'll go on the lamb for now (but let's not get started on cattle!!)

[Libloather]

(from Minnesota, where we are visiting the frozen tundra)

Visit - or inhabit?

[IGOTMINE]

"And in rams that preferred to mate with other males..."

What a delightful eupehmism. "Mating" infers procreation. Unless they're making little sheep lawyers, I don't see how this can be called mating.

[CWOJackson]

And in fairness to livestock and pets, they are base animals with limited ability to rationalize. They respond mostly from instinct and have no values or moral code. They are expected to act like...well, animals.

[StriperSniper]

certain groups of brain cells were different between rams and ewes in a part of the sheep brain controlling sexual behavior.

And in rams that preferred to mate with other males, this area was smaller than in males that preferred females.

Too dumb to f***!
(The right way ;-)

[VeniVidiVici]

Either these scientists have an agenda or somebody's gone and pulled the wool over their eyes.