Experience modulates both aromatase activity and the sensitivity of agonistic behaviour to testosterone in black-headed gulls

• Published in: Physiology & behavior Vol. 97; no. 1; pp. 30 - 35
• Main Authors: Ros, Albert F.H, Franco, Aldina M.A, Groothuis, Ton G.G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 20.04.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aging; Agonistic Behavior - drug effects; Animals; Aromatase; Aromatase - metabolism; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Charadriiformes; Drug Implants; Estradiol - administration & dosage; Estradiol - blood; Estradiol - pharmacology; Experience; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hypothalamus; Hypothalamus - enzymology; Increased sensitivity; Isolation; Larus ridibundus; Male; Preoptic area; Preoptic Area - enzymology; Priming; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social behaviour; Social Isolation; Testosterone; Testosterone - administration & dosage; Testosterone - blood; Testosterone - pharmacology; Testosterone; Experience; Preoptic area; Increased sensitivity; Aromatase; Priming; Isolation; Social behaviour; Hypothalamus; Androgen; Enzyme; Priming effect; Central nervous system; Estrogen synthase; Encephalon; Sensitivity; Social behavior; Social interaction; Testicular hormone; Sex steroid hormone; Agonistic behavior

Abstract In young black-headed gulls ( Larus ridibundus ), exposure to testosterone increases the sensitivity of agonistic behaviour to a subsequent exposure to this hormone. The aim of this paper is twofold: to analyze whether social experience, gained during testosterone exposure, mediates this in...