Effects of acute sublethal gamma radiation exposure on aggressive behavior in male mice: a dose-response study.
The resident-intruder paradigm was used to assess the effects of gamma radiation (0, 3, 5, 7 Gray [Gy] cobalt-60) on aggressive offensive behavior in resident male mice over a 3-month period. The defensive behavior of nonirradiated intruder mice was also monitored. A dose of 3 Gy had no effect on either the residents' offensive behavior or the defensive behavior of the intruders paired with them. Doses of 5 and 7 Gy produced decreases in offensive behavior of irradiated residents during the second week postirradiation. The nonirradiated intruders paired with these animals displayed decreases in defensive behavior during this time period, indicating a sensitivity to changes in the residents' behavior. After the third week postirradiation, offensive and defensive behavior did not differ significantly between irradiated mice and sham-irradiated controls. This study suggests that sublethal doses of radiation can temporarily suppress aggressive behavior but have no apparent permanent effect on that behavior.
Maier
D M
DM
Behavioral Sciences Department, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814-5145.
Landauer
M R
MR
D000374:Aggression / Q000528:radiation effects*; D000818:Animals; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005720:Gamma Rays; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000528:radiation effects