Female dominance hierarchies influence responses to psychosocial stressors.

ABSTRACT: Social species form dominance hierarchies to ensure survival and promote reproductive success. Traditionally studied in males, rodent hierarchies are considered despotic, and dominant social rank results from a history of winning agonistic encounters. By contrast, female hierarchies are thought to be less despotic, and rank is conferred by intrinsic traits. Both social buffering and elevated social status confer resilience to depression, anxiety, and other consequences of chronic stress. Here, we investigate whether female social hierarchies and individual traits related to social rank likewise influence stress resilience. We observe the formation of dyadic female hierarchies under varying conditions of ambient light and circadian phase and subject mice to two forms of chronic psychosocial

SUBMITTER: Smith-Osborne L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10321215 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature