This project is concerned with basic mechanisms in the development and hormonal modulation of mammalian social behavior. For strategic reasons we plan to study a highly social carnivore, the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), with a unique set of behavioral and morphological features. We are interested in the processes through which the following aspects of adult social behavior emerge during the period between infancy and puberty: (A) There is near absolute dominance of females over males in terms of access to food at a kill. (B) Female dominance persists in non-feeding situations. (C) Certain vocalizations, e.g., """"""""whoops"""""""", are more likely to be emitted by males than females. (D) Anal scent marking, a prominent feature of hyena behavior, is differentially emitted by males and females as a function of rank and context. (E) Socially cohesive behaviors (e.g., greeting ceremonies and close proximity) are common in like-sex dyads and rare in between-sex dyads. Field observations have provided these data, but are limited in terms of following individuals through development, or in the kinds of physiological work that can be undertaken. We therefore propose to establish four groups (""""""""clans"""""""") of hyenas. These eight member clans will be evenly divided as to sex and treatment condition (intact or gonadectomized). Through observation of animals in conditions designed to simulate activities at the den, during competitive feeding, and at territorial borders, we hope to trace the emergence of female dominance from early patterns of rough and tumble play, and the development of the highly sex, rank, and role-differentiated adult greeting ceremony from the generalized excitement of infant greetings. The latter typically involve erections in both male and female infants; a behavioral event made possible by the unusual development of external genitalia in female superficially identical to those of the male. Monthly assays of various hormones, in concert with gonadectomy data and replacement hormone studies, should provide us with significant information regarding activational and/or possible postnatal organizational effects of hormones.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH039917-04
Application #
3377702
Study Section
Psychobiology and Behavior Research Review Committee (BBP)
Project Start
1984-06-01
Project End
1988-06-30
Budget Start
1987-06-01
Budget End
1988-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
094878337
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704
Cunha, Gerald R; Risbridger, Gail; Wang, Hong et al. (2014) Development of the external genitalia: perspectives from the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Differentiation 87:4-22
Hammond, Geoffrey L; Miguel-Queralt, Solange; Yalcinkaya, Tamer M et al. (2012) Phylogenetic comparisons implicate sex hormone-binding globulin in ""masculinization"" of the female spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Endocrinology 153:1435-43
Place, Ned J; Coscia, Elizabeth M; Dahl, Nancy J et al. (2011) The anti-androgen combination, flutamide plus finasteride, paradoxically suppressed LH and androgen concentrations in pregnant spotted hyenas, but not in males. Gen Comp Endocrinol 170:455-9
Van Meter, Page E; French, Jeffrey A; Bidali, Kaisa et al. (2008) Non-invasive measurement of fecal estrogens in the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Gen Comp Endocrinol 155:464-71
Athirakul, Krairerk; Bradbury, J Alyce; Graves, Joan P et al. (2008) Increased blood pressure in mice lacking cytochrome P450 2J5. FASEB J 22:4096-108
Wagner, Aaron P; Frank, Laurence G; Creel, Scott et al. (2007) Transient genital abnormalities in striped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena). Horm Behav 51:626-32
Glickman, Stephen E; Cunha, Gerald R; Drea, Christine M et al. (2006) Mammalian sexual differentiation: lessons from the spotted hyena. Trends Endocrinol Metab 17:349-56
McFadden, Dennis; Pasanen, Edward G; Weldele, Mary L et al. (2006) Masculinized otoacoustic emissions in female spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta). Horm Behav 50:285-92
Drea, Christine M (2006) Studying primate learning in group contexts: Tests of social foraging, response to novelty, and cooperative problem solving. Methods 38:162-77
Browne, P; Place, N J; Vidal, J D et al. (2006) Endocrine differentiation of fetal ovaries and testes of the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta): timing of androgen-independent versus androgen-driven genital development. Reproduction 132:649-59

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