Identification of a neural factor that governs aggression in teleosts

Research Project

Project/Area Number	24658168
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Research Field	General fisheries
Research Institution	The University of Tokyo
Principal Investigator	OKUBO Kataaki 東京大学, 農学生命科学研究科, 准教授 (10370131)
Project Period (FY)	2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
Budget Amount *help	¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000) Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,820,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥420,000) Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000) Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Keywords	水産学 / 行動学 / 生理学 / 神経科学 / 魚類 / 攻撃性 / 脳 / 男性ホルモン
Outline of Final Research Achievements	Androgen serves as the primary stimulator of aggression in vertebrates, including teleosts. In this study, we examined the neural mechanisms underlying the induction of aggressive behavior by androgen, using medaka as a model teleost species. Our result demonstrated that androgen secreted by the testis male-specifically induces the expression of vasotocin in the hypothalamus, that androgen is capable of activating the transcription of vasotocin directly, and that vasotocin has the ability to promote aggressive behavior.