Dominance and age-related changes in the play fighting of intact and post-weaning castrated male rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Smith, Lori K.; Field, Evelyn F.; Forgie, Margaret L.

doi:10.1002/(sici)1098-2337(1996)22:3<215::aid-ab6>3.0.co;2-l

Cited by 40 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…These data agree with those in rats, for which prepubertal GNX also does not alter the decline in play [16,17]. Unlike in rats [18,19], however, prepubertal GNX increased levels of play in Siberian hamsters at P30 (P<0.004, main effect of GNX, ANOVA).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The present findings demonstrate that the prepubertal ovary and testis also impact juvenile social behaviors. In rats, neither prepubertal castration nor prepubertal ovariectomy alters levels of juvenile social play [14,17,55,56, but see 57]. Discrepant findings between Siberian hamsters and rats likely reflect a species difference, and highlight the importance of using multiple, diverse animal models in biological research [58].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dissociation of Puberty and Adolescent Social Development in a Seasonally Breeding Species

et al. 2018

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Alongside the development of sexual characteristics and reproductive competence, adolescents undergo marked cognitive, social, and emotional development [1]. A fundamental question is whether these changes are triggered by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis at puberty (puberty dependent) or whether they occur independently of HPG activation (puberty independent). Disentangling puberty-dependent from puberty-independent mechanisms is difficult because puberty and adolescence typically proceed concurrently. Here, we test a new approach that leverages natural adaptations of a seasonally breeding species to dissociate pubertal status from chronological age. Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) reared in a long, summer-like day length (LD) exhibit rapid pubertal development, whereas those reared in a short, winter-like day length (SD) delay puberty by several months to synchronize breeding with the following spring [2, 3]. We tested whether the SD-induced delay in puberty delays the peri-adolescent decline in juvenile social play and the rise in aggression that characterizes adolescent social development in many species [4-6] and compared the results to those obtained after prepubertal gonadectomy. Neither SD rearing nor prepubertal gonadectomy altered the age at which hamsters transitioned from play to aggression; SD-reared hamsters completed this transition prior to puberty. SD rearing and prepubertal gonadectomy, however, increased levels of play in male and female juveniles, implicating a previously unknown role for prepubertal gonadal hormones in juvenile social behavior. Levels of aggression were also impacted (decreased) in SD-reared and gonadectomized males. These data demonstrate that puberty-independent mechanisms regulate the timing of adolescent social development, while prepubertal and adult gonadal hormones modulate levels of age-appropriate social behaviors.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dissociation of Puberty and Adolescent Social Development in a Seasonally Breeding Species

et al. 2018

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“…Play in the rat primarily takes the form of “rough-and-tumble” activity; rats will vigorously chase each other, pounce on each other’s dorsal surface, nuzzle and nip at the nape, and pin each other (Panksepp et al, 1984; Pellis & Pellis, 2009; Siviy & Panksepp, 2011; Vanderschuren et al, 1997; Vanderschuren & Trezza, 2014). Although dominance-related asymmetry can occur between two rats (Pellis et al, 1993b; Smith et al, 1996), both partners of a play dyad tend to get a fair share of pouncing and pinning during a bout of play. Play is also distinct from other categories of social behavior in the adult rat, such as aggression and sex, and while play may borrow elements from these other behaviors these are combined in ways that clearly distinguishes the overall activity from the adult counterparts (Pellis & Pellis, 1991).…”

Section: The Rat As An Optimal Animal Model To Study the Neurobiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

A brain motivated to play: insights into the neurobiology of playfulness

Siviy

2016

Behav

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Play is an important part of normal childhood development and is seen in varied forms among many mammals. While not indispensable to normal development, playful social experiences as juveniles may provide an opportunity to develop flexible behavioral strategies when novel and uncertain situations arise as an adult. To understand the neurobiological mechanisms responsible for play and how the functions of play may relate to these neural substrates, the rat has become the model of choice. Play in the rat is easily quantified, tightly regulated, and can be modulated by genetic factors and postnatal experiences. Brain areas most likely to be involved in the modulation of play include regions within the prefrontal cortex, dorsal and ventral striatum, some regions of the amygdala, and habenula. This paper discusses what we currently know about the neurobiological substrates of play and how this can help illuminate functional questions about the putative benefits of play.

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“…In addition, in male Long Evans rats, while the likelihood of complete rotation decreases with age, the probability of using a partial rotation, where the animal only partially rotates over to supine and keeps one or both hindpaws planted on the substrate, increases (Smith, Field, Forgie, & Pellis, 1996). This age related change in the type of defense used has been shown to depend on the presence of neonatal androgens; castration of males at birth (Smith, Forgie, & Pellis, 1997), but not after weaning (Smith et al, 1996) blocks this shift in playful defense.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Play fighting in androgen-insensitivetfm rats: Evidence that androgen receptors are necessary for the development of adult playful attack and defense

Field

Whishaw²,

Watson

2006

Dev. Psychobiol.

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The frequency of playful attack and the style of playful defense, are modifiable by gonadal steroids and change after puberty in male and female rats. The present study examined the play behavior exhibited by testicular feminized mutation (tfm)-affected males, who are insensitive to androgens but can bind estrogens aromatized from androgens, to determine the relative contributions of androgens and estrogens to the age-related changes in play behavior. tfm males did not exhibit a decrease in playful attack with age and were more likely to maintain the use of complete rotations, a juvenile form of playful defense, into adulthood. tfm males did however, show age related changes in the use of partial rotations and upright postures, two other forms of playful defense, that were similar to normal males. These data suggest that the development of play fighting and defense in males is dependent on both androgen-and estrogenreceptor-mediated effects. ß 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 48: 111-120, 2006.

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Dominance and age-related changes in the play fighting of intact and post-weaning castrated male rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Cited by 40 publications

References 31 publications

Dissociation of Puberty and Adolescent Social Development in a Seasonally Breeding Species

Dissociation of Puberty and Adolescent Social Development in a Seasonally Breeding Species

A brain motivated to play: insights into the neurobiology of playfulness

Play fighting in androgen-insensitivetfm rats: Evidence that androgen receptors are necessary for the development of adult playful attack and defense

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