Genetic correlation between steroid sulfatase concentration and initiationof attack behavior in mice

The pairing region of the X-Y chromosomes recombines at male meiosis. We pr eviously found that offense behavior in male mice, measured by initiation o f attack against a conspecific male, was linked to this region. Only one fu nctional gene (coding for steroid sulfatase or Sts) is mapped on this regio n as of yet, suggesting that it could be a candidate for offense behavior. We estimated the genetic correlation between the concentration of STS prote in in the liver and the initiation of attack behavior in 11 strains of inbr ed mice. The high correlation (close to reliability) coefficient of the beh avioral phenotype indicates the implication of STS in offense behavior. Rec ent investigations have demonstrated the involvement of STS in neurosteroid biochemical pathways, and several lines of evidence indicate that neuroste roids interact with neurotransmitters. These conclusions and our present re sults support the hypothesis that sulfatation of steroids may be the prime mover of a complex network, including genes shown to be implicated in aggre ssion by mutagenesis.