The Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroen-docrinology may seem a bit misplaced in the University of Tsukuba's Faculty of Human Sciences, as it conducts research on hormonally regulated behaviour in mice, rather than on human studies. "Why mice? The mechanisms and results of hormone-regulated behaviour in mice are very similar to those in humans,"explains laboratory head Sonoko Ogawa. "We can also genetically manipulate mice relatively easily, so we can investigate the effects of individual hormones." Blocking the action of certain hormones such as oestrogen can have profound effects on behaviour. "There are two types of oestrogen receptors-alpha and beta," says Ogawa. The alpha receptor is necessary for aggressive and sexual behaviours in mice, whereas the beta receptor influences the levels and timing of many behaviours."
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