Aggressive behavior of juvenile mice: influence of androgen and olfactory stimuli

Testosterone propionate (TP) administered from Day 21 through Day 50 of life enhanced the aggressiveness of castrated and neonatally TP-treated juvenile male and female mice and, to a lesser extent, enhanced the aggressiveness of nonneonatally androgenized females. In addition, the enhanced aggressive behavior of juvenile male and female mice was directed principally toward juvenile male but not female opponents and was inhibited by the application of urine from juvenile females to the fur of juvenile male opponents. These experiments indicate that androgen and olfactory stimuli modulate the aggressive behavior of juvenile mice in a manner similar to that of adult animals.