[The experimental model of establishment and maintenance of social hierarchy in laboratory mice] (original) (raw)
Related papers
Psicothema, 1997
This study examines the importance of dominance or submissiveness in pairs of mice, on their performance in subsequent agonistic encounters. Animals were housed in pairs for three days, and, on the basis of their behaviour patterns (attack, threat, submission, avoidance), were classified as dominants or subordinates. Subsequently, behaviour of dominants confronting dominants, dominants confronting new subordinates and subordinates confronting subordinates were video-taped and behaviour evaluated using an ethologically-based analysis. Submissive and dominant animals showed behavioural characteristics that clearly reflect their previous social status and were less influenced by an immediate evaluation of the opponent. In the course of this experiment, dominant animals showed relatively little defensive/avoidance behaviour, irrespective of the type of opponent. Submissive counterparts, acutely showed no offensive behaviour when confronting dominants or submissives. Behavioural elements other than strictly agonistic ones are influenced by the previous status of male mice.
[Competition for limited environmental resources on the social dominance model in laboratory mice]
Zhurnal vysshei nervnoi deiatelnosti imeni I P Pavlova
Asymmetry of social rank in the competition for food and female was studied using the social dominance model with only two male mice. Marking activity was recorded as a useful indicator of the social status. Social rank was determined by asymmetry in aggressive behavior. A food test was presented for 10 min daily within 5 days of the experiment, whereas a sexual test was performed only on the 5th day for 30 min. Marking behavior was estimated twice: before the first interaction and on the 4th day of the experiment. The competition for food was accompanied by active attacks, escapes, vertical defense postures, and sniffing. The level of aggression, sniffing, and food activity was higher in dominant than submissive males. Time course of aggressive, defensive, and sniffing behaviors was characterized by maximum scores in the period of formation of social hierarchy; however, the rate of food activity in this period was low and increased only to the 4th day. Introduction of a receptive f...
Development of the Social Behavior of Two Mice Species With Contrasting Social Systems
Aggressive Behavior, 2012
The house mouse (Mus musculus) and the mound-building mouse (M. spicilegus) differ in their mating and social systems. The M. musculus is polygynous and females tend to breed cooperatively while M. spicilegus is known to be monogamous and famous for its unique cooperative behavior; the communal overwintering. Mus spicilegus is considered as a highly aggressive species in the genus Mus. In the present study, we attempted to analyze the development of aggressive and sociable behavior in these species and to discover how familiarity with the target moderates the development of sociable and aggressive behaviors and moderates the differences between the species. Dyadic social interaction tests in neutral cages were performed on 21-, 60-, and 120-day-old mice of both genders and both species. Each individual was tested against a sibling and an unfamiliar individual at all three ages. Our results showed that the development of aggressive and sociable behavior with age differed between the species and sexes; however, familiarity with the other mouse moderated the effect of species on aggression. At 21 days, both genders of M. spicilegus were more aggressive against strangers than siblings. This became true of both species at 60 days. When facing a stranger, both sexes of M. spicilegus were more aggressive than M. musculus at 120 days. However, when facing a sibling, neither gender of M. spicilegus was more agonistic than M. musculus, indicating that either kinship or early social experiences elicit tolerance.
Some features of social living were investigated in three inbred strains of mice: C57BI/6j, Balb/cj, and NIH. Five social behaviors-Aggression, Submission, Allogrooming, Social Rest and Rest Alone, as well as Wheel Running Activity-were recorded 2 h daily for a week, in 26 groups of seven male mice living in an enriched environment. Dominants and subordinates among strains shared some behavioral characteristics, but strain contributions upon social structure were also detected. Similarities among strains included the appearance of a single dominant mouse per group rated as the most aggressive, besides from being the animal presented with most Submissions. Allogrooming was more frequent among subordinates than among dominants and subordinates. Differences among strains were that agonistic behavior among subordinates was higher in the Balb/cj and NIH groups than in the C57B1/6j mice. NIH mice were recorded in Rest Alone more often than mice from the other strains. C57B1/6j dominants showed higher rates of Wheel Running Activity than subordinates. Small groups of male house mice (Mus musculus L.) in laboratory confinements establish dominance relationships strongly related to territory domination (Mackintosh, 1970; Poole & Morgan, 1976). Such hierarchy is characterized by the emergence of a"despotic individual" which tends to occupy almost all the available area, allowing subordinates to dwell within that space (Mackintosh, 1970; Poole & Morgan, 1976). The establishment of a dominance hierarchy is the prompt outcome of many agonistic confrontations. In M. musculus, intraspecific aggressiveness is
Social Organization and Aggression in a Group of Olfactory Bulbectomized Male Mice
Physiology & Behavior, 1996
Social organization and aggression in a group of olfactory bulbectomized male mice. PHYSIOL BEHAV 60(2) 403-409, 1996.-Olfactory bulbectomized and control male CF-1 strain mice were housed in separate, large, seminatural environments over a 30-day observation period. Control mice engaged in vigorous fighting behavior before a dominant animal emerged. The alpha mouse established the floor area as its territory and vigorously attacked all other mice that ventured from the second tier of the enclosure to the floor. Lower ranking mice had numerous body scars, were much less aggressive, and engaged in a variety of nonaggressive social interactions. In contrast, bulbectomized mice did not fight and roamed freely through all areas of the environment. These mice largely ignored one another, engaged in little or no social behavior, and had no body scars. When two anosmic mice came into physical contact, they appeared startled and moved away from one another. These results, together with those of prior studies, indicate that olfaction plays a critical role in virtually all aspects of social behavior in male mice.
Acta ethologica, 2003
The social relationships of Mus spicilegus were studied in intraspecific cage groups for a month during the reproductive period to clarify the role of intraspecific aggressiveness in shaping social structure and in reproduction. The mound-building mice were captured from a wild population in northern Bulgaria. A total of 13 groups, 5 male, 4 female, and 4 male-female groups, were tested. Each group consisted of five unfamiliar adults. The experiments were carried out in 100100-cm glass cages. The patterns of behaviour and the dominantsubordinate structure within each group were investigated. A dominance index for every individual in the group was calculated. During the period of establishment of the hierarchical structure in the groups a high level of aggressiveness was registered among individuals. About half of the subdominants and subordinates were found dead, with or without obvious marks of injury. Male-male interactions were more aggressive compared to these of females. Dominant-subordinate relationships between individuals of the same sex were observed in the mixed groups. A link between dominance rank and reproduction was established. The dominant male and the dominant female formed a pair and started to breed. Based on these findings it can be assumed that the aggressiveness of M. spicilegus is an adaptation to its life in the fields, where dominance is likely to be an essential factor in individual reproductive success. It is likely that the successful rearing of offspring in natural populations, which are exposed to strong biotic and abiotic impact, necessitates the existence of monogamous relationships.
Behavioural comparisons of isolated, dominant and subordinate mice
Behavioural Processes, 1979
The study examines the suggestion that isolated male mice act in a similar way to dominant males. Behaviours of isolated, dominant and subordinate mice were compared in an open-field, emergence test, activity monitor and aggression test. In a number of ways the behaviour of both isolates and dominants differed from subordinates. Subordinates were more active on the first day in the open-field, but they habituated relatively quickly. In contrast, both the isolates and dominants were initially relatively inactive, but reacted to a novel situation for longer. There were, however, no circadian variations in activity in the three categories of mice. Unlike the subordinates, both dominants and isolates displayed aggression towards male mice; these last two categories of mice also had heavier sex accessory glands. It was concluded that the behaviour of isolated and dominant mice is very similar, at least under the conditions of this experiment.
A longitudinal study of dominance in an outdoor colony of domestic rats
Journal of Comparative Psychology, 1983
A colony of domestic rats {Rattus norvegkus) in a large outdoor enclosure was observed daily for 15 mo. In both the colonizing rats and their progeny, social dominance followed a two-stage pattern. Among socially immature males of less than 150 days of age, social interaction typically took the form of play fighting and produced dominance hierarchies that were relatively unstable, nonfunctional in regard to activities such as copulation, and nonpredictive of adult dominance. Socially mature males, in contrast, won contests with aggressive acts such as biting-chasing, had the highest frequencies of social interaction and copulation, and were most active in attacking interlopers. There were also indications, based on more limited evidence, that maternally active females established functional and somewhat stable hierarchies.