Aggression is a behavior of interest in our daily lives for any number of reasons. Aggressive behavior may be studied using a number of model systems. Dr. Jay Rosenblatt is studying aggression while investigating maternal aggressive behavior in rodents. He is looking at the hormonal, olfactory and neural determinants of pregnancy-induced and postpartum aggression in laboratory rats, a species which is representative of many mammals in both hormonal secretions and behavior during pregnancy and lactation. His goals include the identification of pregnancy hormones responsible for territorial aggression and maternal aggression. The role of olfaction will also be explored in nonpregnant animals that have been sensitized with estrogen. Further studies are planned to reveal brain structures which are involved in aggression.
