title: Acute and chronic effects of psychotropic drugs on maternal aggression in mice.
abstract: The present study investigated the acute and chronic effects of psychotropic drugs on maternal aggression in mice. All female mice had been singly housed since the end of the 4-day mating period. Behavioral testing for acute drug effects was carried out on postpartum days 5 and 7. Chronic drug treatment was started immediately after removal of the partner male, and was terminated on the 3rd postpartum day; behavioral testing was done on the 5th postpartum day. Acute administration of chlordiazepoxide (CDP; 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg, IP) showed a biphasic effect on maternal aggression; 10 mg/kg CDP significantly increased the frequency of bites, while 15 mg/kg CDP significantly decreased it. Imipramine (IMP; 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg, IP) decreased the frequency of bites in a dose-dependent manner. Haloperidol (HAL; 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg, IP) also decreased the frequency of bites dose dependently, but 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg HAL decreased both the frequency and duration of locomotion. Chronic treatment with either CDP (5 and 10 mg/kg, IP) or HAL (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg, IP) failed to alter the frequency of bites. This evidence indicates that the antidepressant imipramine has a specific action in alleviating postpartum female aggression, and suggests that female aggression in mice is a useful tool for differentiating the actions of psychotropic drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs