In comparison with behavior in isolation, 6 strains of inbred mice, C57BL, BALB/c, DBA/2, A, C3H/2, and Rill, respond to increases in population size of 10 and 20 with heightened behavioral reactivity within the population confines and during tests on 2 different measures of exploration. Adrenal and testis reactivity shows more individuality among strains; however, in most cases within-group variance of adrenal weight is lower at higher densities. Genotype sets the limits of response for both behavioral and endocrine measures, although these appear to be regulated independently.
The first experiment was an investigation of the importance of the gonadal hormones in the control of the scent-marking behavior of the adult female. Gonadectomy did not lead to the decrease in marking which had been expected from previous studies with males. The second experiment was a longitudinal study of the development of scent marking in the female. The subjects were ovariectomized or given sham operations at 22 days of age. The experiment demonstrated that the gonadal hormones are not required for the development of marking in the young female. In both experiments morphological measures of the ventral sebaceous scent gland and the presence of the vaginal orifice were affected by gonadectomy.a This paper is based on portions of a dissertation submitted by the first author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD degree,
A thorough review of single-gene studies of behavior was recently published by Wilcock. His evaluation is that most studies are "trivial" in that they concentrate on obvious peripheral mechanisms without deep psychological meaning. The evaluation neglects that peripheral mechanisms often account for much of the normal range of variation, that single genes can be used to preset physiological parameters, and that simple explanations can prevent premature neurologizing.
Midventral scent glands of 12 gerbils were excised; nonglandular skin strips of 12 were excised; 12 received midline incisions through their glands but remained intact; and 12 received no operation. The groups did not differ in frequency of marking (rubbing the ventral area on floor pegs) during 5-min. tests. In a subsequent study, 14 gland-and skin-excised subjects did not differ in the temporal distribution of marking over 7-min. test periods. Prior marking experience in the apparatus did not affect results. Apparently, marking behavior is not regulated by some aspect of the gland. The implications of the results for the nature of the hormonal control of marking are discussed.
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