Abstract
Summary
Indices of aggressive behavior were measured in paired male house mice which previously had been preputialectomized or sham-operated. Total fights and attacking time were increased in pairs comprised of a preputialectomized and a sham-operated animal as compared to that observed in sham-operated pairs. Preputialectomized males also showed a tendency to initiate first attacks of a paired encounter, but social rank was independent of presence or absence of preputial glands in an individual. Results indicate that the preputial glands influence fighting behavior, possibly through olfactory pathways.
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