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

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