title: [Testicular testosterone production in male mice of inbred strains PT and CBA/Lac after a long-term period of stable social hierarchy].
abstract: Social dominance can alter testicular testosterone production, although there is pronounced variability in the relationship between social status and pattern of the testosterone response. The study designed to investigate how a long-term period of stable social hierarchy effects on testicular testosterone production in male mice of inbred strains PT and CBA/Lac. Paired males of different genotypes were housed together for 32 days beginning 38 day of age. Dyadic interactions of males generated dominance-subordination relationships during the first day after a social group has been produced and the social rank of each opponent was assessed by asymmetry in agonistic behaviour. Serum level of testosterone and its testicular content were evaluated in male mice of both inbred strains at 70 day of age after pair housing. Control animals were age- and genotype-matched single males that were housed in conventional cages. After a long-term period of pair housing, the serum testosterone level and its testicular content in males of both PT and CBA/Lac strains were not significantly different from the control. There were no significant differences in androgenic parameters between social ranks in male mice of both strains. The results indicate that in laboratory mice the pattern of testicular testosterone response to social hierarchy determined by a social situation, for example, a stability of social interactions, when the importance of aggressive competition for rank is minimal.
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Osadchuk
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Gutorova
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kleshchev
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone