title: Gabaergic modulation of mouse-killing in the rat.
abstract: When GABA-potentiating compounds were administered IP to rats with prior experience of mouse-killing behaviour, a reduction of killing was observed with gamma-vinyl GABA (200 and 400 mg/kg) and nipecotic acid amide (400 mg/kg), while no significant effect was noted following injection of dipropylacetate or THIP. The inhibitory effects of gamma-vinyl GABA and nipecotic acid amide were not reversed by subsequent injection of picrotoxin and were associated with sedation as observed in open field and actograph tests. When GABA-potentiating compounds were administered to food-deprived rats exposed for the first time to a mouse (initial elicitation), administration of gamma-vinyl GABA, dipropylacetate, nipecotic acid amide or THIP increased the incidence of mouse-killing behaviour. Conversely, the incidence of mouse-killing under the same conditions was reduced following injections of picrotoxin. These results do not support the hypothesis that the general activation of GABAergic mechanisms inhibits mouse-killing behaviour in rats. On the contrary, data obtained in naive animals suggest that potentiation of these mechanisms actually facilitates the initial elicitation of this behaviour.
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000614:Aminocaproates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D006801:Humans; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009557:Nipecotic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D020888:Vigabatrin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000614:Aminocaproates; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D007555:Isoxazoles; D009557:Nipecotic Acids; D010852:Picrotoxin; D014635:Valproic Acid; D020888:Vigabatrin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C027785:nipecotic acid amide; C015542:gaboxadol; C004651:dipropylacetamide