Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol 37, Issue 1 50-61, Copyright © 1975 by American Psychosomatic Society

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Consequences of social conflict on plasma testosterone levels in rhesus monkeys

RM Rose, IS Berstein and TP Gordon

Four adult male rhesus monkeys formed a new social group with 13 adult females. The male who became dominant [alpha] showed a progressive increase in plasma testosterone. The male who became subordinate to the other three males showed an 80% fall in testosterone from baseline levels. After 7 weeks, this group was introduced to a well-established breeding group, and all four males became subordinate to all members of the breeding group. All four males evidenced a fall in testosterone during the first week after introduction, and within 6 weeks their levels were approximately--80% of pre-introduction values. The alpha male of the breeding group showed a large increase in testosterone [238%] 24 hr after he successfully defended his group and became the dominant animal of the larger, newly-formed group. Thus, plasma testosterone levels appear to be significantly influenced by the outcome of conflict attendant to alterations in status of rhesus monkeys living in social groups.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. N. Seidman and B. T. Walsh Testosterone and Depression in Aging Men Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, February 1, 1999; 7(1): 18 - 33. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				I. Ward and J Weisz Maternal stress alters plasma testosterone in fetal males Science, January 18, 1980; 207(4428): 328 - 329. [Abstract] [PDF]