ETHOLOGICALLY-DETERMINED RESPONSES OF MALE-MICE IN NEW DYADIC ENCOUNTERS REFLECT THEIR PREVIOUS SOCIAL-STATUS

This study examines the importance of dominance or submissiveness in p airs of mice, on their performance in subsequent agonistic encounters. Animals were housed in pairs for three days, and, on the basis of the ir behaviour patterns (attack, threat, submission, avoidance), were cl assified as dominants or subordinates. Subsequently, behaviour of domi nants confronting dominants, dominants confronting new subordinates an d subordinates confronting subordinates were video-taped and behaviour evaluated using an ethologically-based analysis. Submissive and domin ant animals showed behavioural characteristics that clearly reflect th eir previous social status and were less influenced by an immediate ev aluation of the opponent. In the course of this experiment, dominant a nimals showed relatively little defensive/avoidance behaviour, irrespe ctive of the type of opponent. Submissive counterparts, acutely showed no offensive behaviour when confronting dominants or submissives. Beh avioural elements other than strictly agonistic ones are influenced by the previous status of male mice.