The pubertal transition in the play fighting of male rats : developmental byproduct or ontogenetic adaptation?

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dc.contributor.authorSmith, Lori K.
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
dc.contributor.supervisorPellis, Sergio M.
dc.date.accessioned2007-04-11T17:42:38Z
dc.date.available2007-04-11T17:42:38Z
dc.date.issued1996
dc.degree.levelMasters
dc.descriptionxii, 137 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.en
dc.description.abstractPlaying is a common behavior among juveniles of many mammalian species, including rats (Rattus norvegicus). The mechanisms underlying the change that occurs in the play fighting of male rats at puberty were the focus of this thesis. It was found that castration at weaning disrupted the formation of male-typical dominance relationships, but did not alter the pubertal changes in play fighting, whereas neonatal castration prevented the shift from juvenile- to adult-typical behaviour at puberty. This transistion is male specific and cannot be induced in females by exposing htme to more extreme social contexts, involving interactions with unfamiliar males. The change in play by males at puberty is not, then, a byproduct of other sex differences, but results from a highly specific mechanism in early infancy. The significance of this sex difference is explored with respect to the functions of play fighting in rats and other species.en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/42
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Science, 1996en
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Psychology
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Science
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)en
dc.subjectRats -- Behavioren
dc.subjectFighting (Psychology)en
dc.subjectPlay behavior in animalsen
dc.subjectDissertations, Academicen
dc.titleThe pubertal transition in the play fighting of male rats : developmental byproduct or ontogenetic adaptation?en
dc.typeThesisen
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