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Cited by 124Sexual Differentiation and DisordersGenetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal AbnormalitiesNeuroendocrine regulation and behavior

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Sex Differences in Play Fighting Revisited: Traditional and Nontraditional Mechanisms of Sexual Differentiation in Rats

Pellis, Sergio M.·2002·Archives of Sexual Behavior
DOI 10.1023/a:1014070916047
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Abstract

In the traditional model for sexual differentiation in mammals, the female phenotype is the default condition. That is, the female-typical pattern will persist unless acted upon by hormones early in development. The frequency of play fighting in rats, as in most other mammals, is sexually differentiated, and conforms to the traditional model. Males engage in more play fighting than females, and this can be reduced to female-typical levels by neonatal castration. Furthermore, females can be induced to play fight at male-typical levels if treated with testosterone neonatally. Fractionation of play fighting into its constituent components, attack and defense, reveals that it is the frequency of attack that is sexually differentiated, not the likelihood of defense. However, in males, defensive behavior changes at puberty so that the play becomes "rougher." For males to switch to this rougher form of play fighting, they have to be androgenized perinatally. Hence, for males, this second aspect of play fighting that is sexually differentiated also follows the traditional model. In marked contrast, development of the female-typical pattern does not. Neonatal treatment of females with testosterone has no effect; at puberty, they still show the female-typical pattern. On the the other hand, ovariectomy, either at birth or at weaning, leads to females exhibiting the male-typical transition to rougher play fighting at puberty. That is, ovarian hormones appear to actively inhibit the expr…

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Metadata

Authors
Pellis, S. M.
Affiliations
University of Lethbridge (CA)
Corresponding author
Pellis, Sergio M.
ORCID
Pellis, Sergio M.
Venue
Archives of Sexual Behavior
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2002-02
Volume
31
Issue
1
Pages
17-26
ISSN
  • 0004-0002 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-2800
DOI
10.1023/a:1014070916047
OpenAlex
W319684598
Cited by
124
References
7
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 2
FWCI
2.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Archives of Sexual Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
Keywords
play fighting, sexual differentiation, sex differences, rats, neonatal testosterone, neonatal castration, ovarian hormones, ovariectomy, puberty, androgenization
MeSH terms
Animals, Behavior, Animal, Competitive Behavior, Female, Male, Ovary, Play and Playthings, Sex Factors, Testosterone, Rats

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