Sexually dimorphic control of aggression by androgen signaling in a cichlid

Abstract

Innate social behaviors like aggression are modulated by sex steroid hormones such as androgens and estrogens. However, we know little about how the same hormone regulates similar behaviors in both sexes. We investigated the role of androgenic signaling in the regulation of aggression in Astatotilapia burtoni, a social fish in which males and females perform similar aggressive behaviors. We used AR knockout (KO) animals for this study, which was recently shown to be required for male-typical aggression and mating. Surprisingly, AR KO females did not show deficits in aggression. We also determined that females lacking the other AR, AR{beta} showed normal levels of aggression. Blocking both ARs pharmacologically confirmed that neither AR is necessary for aggression in females. However, AR KO males showed clear deficits in attacks. Thus, in A. burtoni there appears to be a sexual dimorphism in the role of AR in the control of aggression.