title: Hypothalamic levels of LHRF in male mice of differing social status and from individual housing.
abstract: Swiss male mice were individually-housed or maintained in groups of 8 from weaning until 80 days of age. At this time, the grouped mice were allocated to new groups of 5-6 previously unfamiliar individuals. Identified dominants were then caged with two clearly submissive males for 1 week. At this time hypothalamic samples were taken from the dominant and one subordinate and from a number of long-term individually-housed males. A radio- immunoassay for LHRF was carried out. The levels of this hypothalamic releasing factor were significantly higher in both dominant and subordinate grouped mice than in 'isolates'. Mice of differing social status showed comparable titres of this hormone. The results suggest that social conflict and/or disturbance augments this factor in mice irrespective of the social status achieved by individual animals.
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Clinical Medicine, University of Parma, 43100 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Vescovi
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Clinical Medicine, University of Parma, 43100 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Clinical Medicine and Zoology, University of Parma, 43100 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mainardi
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Clinical Medicine, University of Parma, 43100 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brocchieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University College of Swansea, Great Britain.
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Brain