Abstract
Dimorphism on dominance and agonistic behaviour in mammals tends to be strongly biased toward males. In this review, we focus on a select few species of mammals in which females are as or more aggressive than males, and/or are dominant to males, and explore the role of androgenic hormones in mediating this important difference. While the data are not as clear-cut as those published on traditional laboratory mammals, our review highlights important endocrine substrates for both organizational and activational influences of steroids on female aggressive behaviour. We highlight areas in which further observations and experiments are crucial, especially the potential facilitative effects of androgens on female aggression. Finally, new and innovative techniques, including molecular genetics and receptor pharmacology, portend important insights into the ways in which androgenic hormones regulate aggressive behaviour in 'atypical' female mammals.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 20130084 |
Journal | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
Volume | 368 |
Issue number | 1631 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 5 2013 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Activational effects
- Aggression
- Dominance
- Mammals
- Organizational effects
- Testosterone
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
- General Agricultural and Biological Sciences