Steroid 5α-Reductase 2 Deficiency Leads to Reduced Dominance-Related and Impulse-Control Behaviors

The document reports on a study that examined the impact of steroid 5α-reductase 2 (5aR2) deficiency on dominance and impulse-control behaviors in mice. The study utilized 9-12 mice per genotype and found that both heterozygous (HZ) and knockout (KO) mice displayed less aggression and dominance behaviors compared to wild-type (WT) mice. The 5aR2 KO mice also showed reduced mating behavior and lower impulsivity-related responses. Additionally, these mice had a significant reduction in D2-like dopamine receptor binding in the nucleus accumbens, indicating that 5aR2 may influence dominance behaviors through modulation of dopaminergic signaling. The study suggests that the enzyme's role in converting testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is important for dominance acquisition and that 5aR2 could be involved in organizing behavioral responses related to dopamine. The number of mice used in various tests ranged from 5 to 19 per genotype.