Effects of castration on aggression and levels of serum sex hormones and their central receptors in mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus) |
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Authors: | Fengqin He Fadao Tai Yuhui Zhang Xia Zhang |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710062, China;(2) College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, 710062, China;(3) Department of Life Sciences, Xi’an University of Arts and Science, Xi’an, 710065, China;(4) Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1Z 7K4, Canada; |
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Abstract: | Aggression in socially monogamous mandarin vole (Microtus mandarinus) was observed after castration. Levels of serum sex hormones and their central receptors were also measured using enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry methods. The data indicate that adult males showed higher levels of aggression
after castration. However, castration significantly reduced levels of serum testosterone, and the number of androgen receptor
immunoreactive neurons in the anterior hypothalamus, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, medial amygdaloid nucleus (P < 0.01) and lateral septal nucleus (P < 0.05). In addition, levels of estrogen receptor β in the anterior hypothalamus and medial amygdaloid nucleus (P < 0.05), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and lateral septal nucleus (P < 0.01) declined to varying degrees at weekly intervals. In contrast, serum 17β-estradiol concentrations were up-regulated
by castration and castration did not change levels of estrogen receptor α in the medial amygdaloid nucleus and lateral septal
nucleus, but increased it in the anterior hypothalamus 3 weeks after castration (P < 0.05). We suggest that higher levels of aggression induced by castration may be independent of serum testosterone and androgen
receptors, and may be associated with high serum 17β-estradiol concentrations, stable estrogen receptor α immunoreactive neurons
in some brain regions and the relative ratio of the two estrogen receptors. |
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