A seasonal switch hypothesis for the neuroendocrine control of aggression

Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Sep 16:S1043-2760(23)00168-6. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2023.08.015. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTAggression is a well-studied social behavior that is universally exhibited by animals across a wide range of contexts. Prevailing knowledge suggests gonadal steroids primarily mediate aggression; however, this is based mainly on studies of male-male aggression in laboratory rodents. When males and females of other species, including humans, are examined, a positive relationship between gonadal steroids and aggression is less substantiated. For instance, hamsters housed in short 'winter-like' days show increased aggression compared with long-day housed hamsters, despite relatively low circulating gonadal steroids. These results suggest alternative, non-gonadal mechanisms controlling aggression. Here, we propose the seasonal switch hypothesis, which employs a multidisciplinary approach to describe how seasonal variation in extra-gonadal steroids, orchestrated by melatonin, drives context-specific changes in aggression.PMID:37722999 | DOI:10.1016/j.tem.2023.08.015
Source: Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM - Category: Endocrinology Authors: Source Type: research