Sex Differences in Reaction to Chronic Unpredictable Stress in the House Mouse (Mus m. musculus) of Wild Origin
October 2025
in “
Preprints.org
”
TLDR Male and female mice handle stress differently.
This study examined sex-specific responses to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) in 52 wild-derived house mice (Mus m. musculus), with equal numbers of males and females. The research found significant sex differences in stress responses, with females showing greater variability in glucocorticoid secretion and being more affected by CUS in terms of weight, behavior, and stress hormone levels. Females exhibited more grooming and immobility, while males showed reduced immobility time. Corticosterone levels were higher in control females than males, with a trend towards higher levels in CUS males. The study emphasizes the importance of including females in stress research to improve ecological validity and understanding of stress-related disorders.
