Time-courses of p-CPA-induced depletion of brain serotonin and muricidal aggression in the rat.
p-Chlorophenylalanine is known to selectively decrease brain serotonin and to induce muricidal aggression in previously docile rats. With regard to the substance's relatively time-limited effect on brain serotonergic system, the neurochemical activity of p-CPA on tryptophan, serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid on seven discrete areas of the rat brain is studied in parallel to the time-course of muricidal aggression induced by the drug. Evidence indicates that, following the disruption of brain serotonergic inhibitory control, muricidal aggression becomes a stable behavior, probably on account of its self-reinforcing property.
D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
D012701:Serotonin; D010134:Fenclonine