A Comparison of Effects of Simple Experimental Manipulations On Fighting Generated By Breeding Activity and Predatory Aggression in 'To' Strain Mice

Abstract

AbstractA preliminary study was conducted to examine the influences of simple experimental manipulations on aggressiveness generated by breeding activity and locust-killing behaviour (a form of predatory aggression?) in 'TO' strain mice. In females, where response to a male intruder was the form of intraspecific aggression investigated, factors examined included: a) female's reproductive status (namely pregnant or lactating) ; b) time since parturition; c) gonadal steroid production; d) anosmia. In males, rank-related fighting and locust killing were contrasted in animals from the breeding situation, from individual housed mice and from unisexual groups of experimental animals. A comparison of these intra- and inter-specific forms of aggression confirm that they can be influenced in very different ways by situational and physiological variables. Both maternal aggression and rank-related fighting were suppressed by anosmia. The results reiterate the need to specify which form of 'aggression' is being used in a particular study.