Relationship between preexposure to prey and PCPA-induced filicidal activity in Sprague-Dawley rats.
Experiments, involving para-chloro-D,L-phenylalanine-induced pup-killing (filicide), were conducted to determine the effect of preexposure to the goal entity on the initial development and long-term expression of PCPA-induced filicide. Three groups of Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 50) were either preexposed/not preexposed, or preexposed for varying periods (5, 8, or 13 days) prior to receiving PCPA. Two major results were obtained: 1) preexposed animals were less filicidal than those not preexposed; and 2) there was an inverse relationship between the number of preexposures and filicide occurrence. The results are interpreted in reference to a serotonin-depletion habituation hypothesis.
Copenhaver
J H
JH
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68105.
Schalock
R L
RL
Johnson
L
L
Stull
T
T
Pankratz
T
T
D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
D012701:Serotonin; D010134:Fenclonine