The effects of clonidine on food consumption and food competition in male stumptail macaques (Macaca arctoides).
The effects of clonidine on noncompetitive and competitive feeding were examined in three adult male stumptail macaques (Macaca arctoides). Noncompetitive feeding was examined when the subjects were individually-caged or group-caged. Clonidine (1.0 mg/kg) administered IM substantially increased food consumption over control values in all subjects in both housing situations. The effects of clonidine on competitive feeding behavior were evaluated in the group-caged environment. Food competition was assessed by recording the number of chows retrieved from a common food box by each subject. Food retrieval was increased in the lowest-ranking subject when clonidine was administered to all subjects. Retrieval decreased in the middle-ranking subject and was unchanged in the highest-ranking subject. Administration of clonidine to individual subjects did not increase food retrieval. It is concluded that since the hyperphagic property of clonidine was only apparent during noncompetitive food-getting, that other drug-behavioral interactions prevented an increase in food retrieval during competitive situations.
D000818:Animals; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003163:Competitive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D008251:Macaca; D008297:Male
D003000:Clonidine