Y chromosome and aggression in strains of laboratory mice

Abstract

Intermale attack behavior differences in laboratory strains of inbred mice have Y chromosome correlates in a small number of strain comparisons. Moreover, the Y correlates interact with autosomal or pseudoautosomal genes. Recent data on the genetics of the Y do not contradict these conclusions. The discovery of several polymorphic loci of the Y could pave the way for a direct confirmation of Y correlates of attack behavior by linkage detection. The involvement of the Y in this behavior has been put forward. Plasmatic testosterone concentration reactivity of some target organs to exogeneous testosterone appears to be correlated with two independent loci of the Y acting in an additive or interactive manner with autosomal or pseudoautosomal loci. However, the association between testosterone action and attack behavior in males needs further evidence, and in any case this association does not underline linear mechanisms.