Adrenal modulation of parental behavior in neonatally gonadectomized C57BL/6J male mice.
C57BL/6J male mice ordinarily kill neonatal mouse pups even if they are rendered androgen deficient by neonatal castration. Experiment 1 showed that adrenalectomy during adult life significantly decreased the tendency of neonatally gonadectomized males to kill newborns. Experiment 2 demonstrated that testosterone exposure (via silastic implants) during adult life prevented the effects of adrenalectomy in that killing was elevated and retrieving was reduced in neonatally gonadectomized males. Adrenal androgens may be responsible for maintaining killing behavior in neonatally castrated C57BL/6J male mice.
Department of Psychology, State University of New York, Albany 12222.
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Kinsley
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Svare
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009919:Orchiectomy; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology
D013739:Testosterone