Male-female interactions in staggerer and non-mutant mice: impairment to react to novelty as a possible explanation of staggerer male social behaviour.

Associated with neurological anomalies, many behavioural deficits are induced by the staggerer mutation. In order to define the consequences of this mutation on the staggerer male social behaviour we realised experimental dyadic encounters with non-mutant and unfamiliar females, either in estrous or in anestrous condition. We compared mutant behaviour to non-mutant male behaviour. Staggerer male behaviour presents the same characteristics during encounters with both types of females. It differs from non-mutant male behaviour in a similar context. Non-mutant males present more interactions (social interest, sniffing and sexual behaviours) with females than staggerer males. Females modify their behaviour as a function of their state of receptivity and according to their partner. Behaviours of staggerer males towards females may be interpreted in terms of general exploratory behaviour.