title: Mouse-killing and motor activity: effects of chronic delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol and pilocarpine.
abstract: Chronic administration of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for 5--8 weeks at 4 dose levels (2, 10, 20, 50mg/kg/day) or of pilocarpine (12.5, 25 mg/kg/day) for 3 weeks induced mouse-killing in 25--70% of previously "non-killer" rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain. The maximum percent of drug-induced mouse-killing depended on the daily dose and housing conditions, 20mg/kg/day THC and 25 mg/kg/day pilocarpine in single-housed rats being the most effective treatments. Drug-induced mouse-killing appeared to be a form of behavioral pathology, differing from the species-specific predatory response, when it first appeared. Concurrent assessment of locomotor and rearing activities showed dose-dependent depressant effects of THC and pilocarpine without evidence for tolerance. Different dose-dependencies and time courses suggest that changes in motor activities are not directly linked to the appearance of the killing behavior.
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D002188:Cannabis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003441:Crowding; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011187:Posture; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D010862:Pilocarpine; D013759:Dronabinol