Spatial ability of XY sex-reversed female mice.
Perinatal gonadal hormones significantly affect subsequent sex differences in reproductive and non-reproductive behaviors in rodents. However, the influence of the sex chromosomes on these behaviors has been largely ignored. To assess the influence of the non-pseudoautosomal region of the Y chromosome, C57BL/JEi male and female mice and mice from the C57BL/6JEi-Y(POS) consomic strain were given behavioral tests known to distinguish males from females. The C57BL/6JEi-Y(POS) strain contains sex-reversed XY-females which, when compared to their XX-female siblings, allow assessment of the influence of the Y chromosome in a female phenotype. XX-females and XY-females did not differ on open-field activity, the Lashley maze, or active avoidance learning, but XY-females were significantly better than XX-females on the Morris hidden platform spatial maze. These findings suggest that males may have both a genetic and a hormonal mechanism to ensure visuospatial superiority.
Stavnezer
A J
AJ
Biobehavioral Sciences Graduate Degree Program, U-154, University of Connecticut, 3107 Horsebarn Hill Road, Storrs, CT 06269-4154, USA.
McDowell
C S
CS
Hyde
L A
LA
Bimonte
H A
HA
Balogh
S A
SA
Hoplight
B J
BJ
Denenberg
V H
VH
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018008:Myogenin / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000502:physiology; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000502:physiology*
D017931:DNA Primers; D004967:Estrogens; C503801:Myog protein, mouse; D018008:Myogenin; D013739:Testosterone