Sexually Dimorphic Control of Aggression by Androgen Signaling in a Cichlid

Overview

Journal Mol Cell Endocrinol

Specialties Cell Biology
Endocrinology
Molecular Biology

Date 2024 Jun 26

PMID 38925266

Authors

Lillian R Jackson

Beau A Alward

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

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 androgen receptor (AR) α knockout (KO) animals for this study since this gene was recently shown to be required for male-typical aggression and mating. Surprisingly, ARα KO females did not show deficits in aggression. We also determined that females lacking the other AR, ARβ, showed normal levels of aggression. Blocking both ARs pharmacologically confirmed that neither AR is necessary for aggression in females. However, ARα KO males showed clear deficits in attacks. Thus, in A. burtoni there appears to be a sexual dimorphism in the role of ARα in the control of aggression.

Citing Articles

Sex differences in aggression and its neural substrate in a cichlid fish.

Jackson L, Dumitrascu M, Alward B Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):84.

PMID: 39748082 PMC: 11696305. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-84188-4.

Androgen receptor alpha deficiency impacts aromatase expression in the female cichlid brain.

Lopez M, Alward B R Soc Open Sci. 2024; 11(7):240608.

PMID: 39076364 PMC: 11285847. DOI: 10.1098/rsos.240608.

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