Resting sites affected by social interactions between male laboratory mice

摘要

Conditions which affected resting sites of laboratory mice (Mus musculus) were examined. Pairs of mice which encountered one another after living in separate home cages for 2 days, established dominant-subordinate relationships. About half of the dominants observed rested in their home cages solitarily and the remainder rested in the home cage of the subordinate gregariously. The subordinates always rested in their home cages. Removing or enclosing one of the paired males after physical contact had no effect on the resting site of the remaining mouse. When one male was removed before physical contact, the other always rested in its home cage. When one male was enclosed before physical contact, the other rested in its home cage or in the cage of the enclosed male: the former being referred to as an active male, and the latter being to as an inactive male. Active males were apt to become dominant and inactive males were apt to become subordinate. The preferences of active and inactive males changed after physical contacts. conclude that resting sites after physical contact show the social relations between the males, and resting sites before physical contacts show the aggressiveness and cautiousness of each mouse.