No evidence for a Y chromosomal effect on alternative behavioral strategies in mice.
This study takes the first step toward testing a Y chromosomal effect on both aggression and thermoregulatory nest-building behavior in mouse lines either bidirectionally selected for short (SAL) and long (LAL) attack latency or high (HIGH) and low (LOW) nest-building behavior. Using reciprocal crosses between SAL and LAL, and between HIGH and LOW, we found no indications for Y chromosomal effects on thermoregulatory nest-building behavior. As for aggression, we confirmed earlier studies on SAL and LAL, i.e., the origin of the Y chromosome influences attack latency, i.e., aggression. However, we did not find indications for a Y chromosomal effect on aggression in the HIGH and LOW lines. Since aggression and nest-building behavior have been shown to be characteristic parameters of two fundamentally different behavioral strategies, the present data underline the improbability of Y chromosomal genes underlying the genetic architecture of alternative behavioral strategies.
Sluyter
F
F
Neurogénétique et Comportement, URA 1294 CNRS, Université Paris V, UFR Biomédicale, France. F.Sluyter@psy.vu.nl
Bult
A
A
Lynch
C B
CB
Meeter
F
F
van Oortmerssen
G A
GA
D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000235:genetics; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009425:Nesting Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000235:genetics; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D014998:Y Chromosome