Sex-Related Coping Responses in Mice Selectively Bred for Aggression

Abstract

Sex differences in strategies of coping with novel situations were studied in three strains of mice with regard to metabolism and open-field and maze activity as well as learning-induced adjustment. The 140 mice were selectively bred for high (Turku Aggressive [TA]) and low (Turku Nonaggressive [TNA]) levels of aggressiveness and originated from a Swiss albino stock normally distributed [N] for aggressiveness. The results indicated that TNA sex differences are more similar to those of the control N mice as compared to those of TA mice. In maze learning, however, the sex differences of TA mice are more in agreement with those of the N strain. Recordings of metabolism and open-field as well as maze activity were correlates of both gender and strain. Sex differences in learning-induced open-field coping behavior were unrelated to strain.