LIFE SPANS IN MICE FROM STRAINS SELECTED FOR HIGH OR LOW AGGRESSION

The present study assessed the life spans in two lines of mice selecti vely bred for high (Turku Aggressive, TA) and low (Turku Nonaggressive , TNA) levels of aggression. The maintained parental Swiss albino stra in (N), normally distributed with regard to aggression, served as a co ntrol line. It was found that the TNA males had a significantly shorte r life span than the other lines of mice of both sexes. The relative e arly death of the TNA males was discussed in terms of male age related decline of inherited low levels of catecholamine and androgenous horm one concentrations. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.