title: [Pharmaco-ethological analysis of agonistic behavior between resident and intruder mice: effects of adrenergic beta-blockers].
abstract: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of adrenergic beta-blockers on agonistic behavior using quantitative ethological methods. In order to generate the agonistic behavior we employed the resident-intruder paradigm: An intruder male mouse is introduced into the home cage of a resident male mouse that has been cohabiting with a female for 5 weeks. The following drugs were administered orally to either resident or intruder mice: dl-Propranolol, oxprenolol, and carteolol. The injection-test interval was 60 min. Each test was recorded using a video TV monitor system, and at a later time several behavioral elements shown by both resident and intruder mice were measured. dl-Propranolol (5, 10, 20 mg/kg), oxprenolol (30, 50, 75 mg/kg), and carteolol (30, 50, 75 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the resident's aggressive episodes (offensive sideways posture, tail rattle, and attack bite) when resident mice were treated. By contrast, when intruder mice were treated with beta-blockers, aggressive episodes by untreated residents were not affected. The results suggest that dl-propranolol, oxprenolol, and carteolol have specific effects on the hostility of resident mice.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000378:Agonistic Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D002354:Carteolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010096:Oxprenolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010096:Oxprenolol; D002354:Carteolol; D011433:Propranolol