p-Chloroamphetamine: short and long term effects upon shock-elicited aggression.
In a series of experiments the effects of p-chloroamphetamine (PCA) on shock-elicited aggression in rats were investigated. 15 min after 5 mg/kg PCA, shock elicited aggression was inhibited. 2 h to 4 weeks after PCA, fighting was facilitated. Both the inhibitory and the excitatory effects of PCA were directly related to the dose of PCA (1.5, 2.5 OR 5 mg/kg) and were blocked by pretreatment with p-chlorophenylalanine but not by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine. PCA-increased pain thresholds 15 min after injection and then decreased pain thresholds over the next 24 h but not thereafter, even though shock-elicited aggression continued to be facilitated. The results are consistent with the idea that inhibition of shock-elicited aggression is associated with enhanced release of serotonin whereas enhancement of shock-elicited aggression is associated with serotonin depletion.
D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004597:Electroshock; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008781:Methyltyrosines / Q000494:pharmacology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013997:Time Factors; D010133:p-Chloroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000662:Amphetamines; D002395:Catecholamines; D008781:Methyltyrosines; D012701:Serotonin; D010133:p-Chloroamphetamine