Organizational Effects

Organizational effects of androgens on aggression:

• Subsequently, it was shown that high doses of testosterone for prolonged periods of time could stimulate high levels of aggression in adult ovariectomized female mice.

• Significant for several reasons:

  • androgens can act in the adult to stimulate aggressive behavior (even in females), although the sensitivity of males and females to aggression-promoting effects of androgens varies
  • thus, androgens (early in life) do not act to permanently alter brain circuitry underlying aggressive behavior, rather early exposure to androgens are thought to increase the male’s responsiveness to subsequent increases in testosterone (at puberty)

castrate

adult males

low levels

of aggression

administer

testosterone

for 2-3 days

high levels

of aggression

ovariectomize

adult females

low levels

of aggression

administer

testosterone

for 20 days

high levels

of aggression

Previous slide

Next slide

Back to first slide

View graphic version