Sexual dimorphism in ultrasonic vocalizations of mice (Mus musculus): gonadal hormone regulation.

Male mice (Mus musculus), during courtship and sexual behavior, vocalize substantially more 70-kHz ultrasounds than do females. Four experiments demonstrated that testosterone propionate (TP) substantially increased ultrasonic emissions and mounting by ovariectomized females and the long-term gonadectomized males and females increased their amount of ultrasound production in response to TP to approximately the same levels. From these results it is suggested that the sexual dimorphism normally seen in ultrasonic vocalizations can be accounted for by the activational effects of androgen in adulthood.