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.
Behavioral Sciences Department, Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814-5145.
D M
DM
Maier
M R
MR
Landauer
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