Studies on the involvement of GABA in the aggression directed by groups of intact or gonadectomized male and female mice towards lactating intruders.
The aims of the present studies were (a) to determine the effects of pharmacological elevation of GABA by treatment with DPA (competitive inhibitor of GABA transaminase) on a form of aggression displayed by grouped female mice towards lactating and non-lactating intruders; (b) to estimate GABA levels in six different brain areas of intact and gonadectomized male and female mice. The results revealed that DPA treatment considerably reduced this form of aggression. Increased GABA levels, modulated by the hormonal state of the animals, were observed in most brain areas studied.
D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002369:Castration; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011247:Pregnancy; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D014635:Valproic Acid