Cited by 85Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeuropeptides and Animal Physiology

Sex differences in the regulation of offensive aggression and dominance by arginine-vasopressin

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Terranova, Joseph I., Ferris, Craig F., Albers, H. Elliott·2017·Frontiers in Endocrinology

Abstract

Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) plays a critical role in the regulation of offensive aggression and social status in mammals. AVP is found in an extensive neural network in the brain. Here we discuss the role of AVP in the regulation of aggression in the limbic system with an emphasis on the critical role of hypothalamic AVP in the control of aggression. In males, activation of AVP V1a receptors (V1aRs) in the hypothalamus stimulates offensive aggression, while in females activation of V1aRs inhibits aggression. Serotonin (5-HT) also acts within the hypothalamus to modulate the effects of AVP on aggression in a sex-dependent manner. Activation of 5-HT1a receptors (5-HT1aRs) inhibits aggression in males and stimulates aggression in females. There are also striking sex differences in the mechanisms underlying the acquisition of dominance. In males, the acquisition of dominance is associated with the activation of AVP-containing neurons in the hypothalamus. In contrast, in females the acquisition of dominance is associated with the activation of 5-HT-containing neurons in the dorsal raphe. AVP and 5-HT also play critical roles in the regulation of a form of social communication that is important for the maintenance of dominance relationships. In both male and female hamsters AVP acts via V1aRs in the hypothalamus, as well as in other limbic structures, to communicate social status through the stimulation of a form of scent marking called flank marking. 5-HT acts on 5-HT1aRs as well as other 5-HT receptors within the hypothalamus to inhibit flank marking induced by AVP in both males and females. Interestingly, while AVP and 5-HT influence the expression of aggression in opposite ways in males and females, there are no sex differences in the effects of AVP and 5-HT on the expression of social communication. Given the profound sex differences in the incidence of many psychiatric disorders and the increasing evidence for a relationship between aggressiveness/dominance and the susceptibility to these disorders, understanding the neural regulation of aggression and social status will have significant import for translational studies.

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [2]Moyer KE The Physiology of Hostility. Oxford, England: Markham (1971).
  2. [75]Ferris CF Neuroplasticity and aggression. In: Nelson RJ, editor. Biology of Aggression. Oxford: Oxford University Press (2005). p. 163– 78.
  3. [145]Hardcastle NL Larkin TE Terranova JI Norvelle A Albers HE Role of arginine-vasopressin (AVP), serotonin, (5-HT) and galanin (GAL) with the anterior hypothalamus (AH) on aggression and social communication in male and female hamsters. Soc Neurosci (2016) 113(46): 13233– 8.

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Authors
Terranova, J. I., Ferris, C. F., & Albers, H. E.
Affiliations
  • Georgia State University (US)
  • Northeastern University (US)
Corresponding author
Albers, H. Elliott
Venue
Frontiers in Endocrinology
Published
2017-11-14
Volume
8
Pages
308-308
ISSN
1664-2392 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2769375518
Cited by
85
References
151
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 8
FWCI
1.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Endocrinology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH11978526, R21MH109302)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
Keywords
vasopressin, offensive aggression, dominance, sex differences, V1a receptor, serotonin, 5-HT1A receptor, hypothalamus, limbic system, dorsal raphe nucleus, flank marking, social communication, social status, hamster, mental illness

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