Castration Does Not Inhibit Aggressive Behavior in Adult Male Prairie Voles ( Microtus ochrogaster)

• Published in: Physiology & behavior Vol. 66; no. 1; pp. 59 - 62
• Main Authors: Demas, Gregory E, Moffatt, Christopher A, Drazen, Deborah L, Nelson, Randy J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Elsevier Inc 01.03.1999; New York, NY Elsevier
• Subjects: Aggression - physiology; Agonistic behavior; Androgens; Animals; Anxiety - psychology; Arvicolinae - physiology; Arvicoline rodents; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormones and behavior; Lactation; Male; Microtus ochrogaster; Motor Activity - physiology; Orchiectomy; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social Environment; Testes; Arvicoline rodents; Androgens; Testes; Agonistic behavior; Affect affectivity; Androgen; Rodentia; Male; Testicle; Male genital system; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Castration; Microtus ochrogaster; Sex steroid hormone; Aggressiveness
• ISSN: 0031-9384; 1873-507X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0031-9384(98)00268-6

The relationship between castration and reduced male aggression is well established. However, anecdotal observations of male prairie voles ( Microtus ochrogaster) suggest that castration does not reduce aggressive behavior. To investigate the role of testicular androgens on aggressive behavior, castrated or gonadally intact male prairie voles were paired in a neutral arena with a gonadally intact vole. Castration did not reduce the frequency of intermale aggression. In Experiment 2, aggressive behavior was examined further using resident–intruder, grouped aggression, and aggression against a lactating female models. Again, castration did not affect the frequency of aggression in male prairie voles. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that aggressive behavior may be independent of gonadal steroid hormones in adult male prairie voles.