title: Vasopressin and serotonin interactions in the control of agonistic behavior.
abstract: In hamsters, dominant/subordinate relationships are initially determined by overt aggression, but subsequently communicated by flank marking, an arginine vasopressin (AVP)-dependent behavior. Once a relationship is established, dominant males will flank mark at a higher frequency than their subordinate partners. Flank marking displayed during social encounters can be turned "on or off" by microinjection of AVP or AVP-receptor antagonist within the anterior hypothalamus (AH). For instance, microinjecting dominant hamsters with AVP-receptor antagonist blocks their flank marking and provokes an immediate induction of flank marking by subordinate animals. The central effects of AVP have been extended to include a role in offensive aggression. Microinjection of AVP-receptor antagonist into the AH inhibits the aggression of a resident hamster toward an intruder and diminishes aggression between hamsters placed into a neutral arena. Microinjection of AVP into the ventrolateral hypothalamus (VLH) facilitates offensive aggression of a resident toward an intruder. As AVP receptors in the VLH are testosterone-dependent, it is possible that the reduction of aggression observed in castrated hamsters is due to a loss of AVP responsiveness in the VLH. Recent work has focused on the notion that serotonin (5-HT) antagonizes AVP activity in the CNS. The AH and VLH have a high density of 5-HT terminals and binding sites. Indeed, there appear to be 5-HT synapses on AVP neurons in the AH. Microinjection of 5-HT into the AH inhibits AVP-induced flank marking while IP injection of fluoxetine a serotonin reuptake inhibitor inhibits AVP-induced offensive aggression in the VLH. It is possible that serotonin interacts with AVP to modulate offensive aggression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester 01655.
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ferris
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Delville
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D000378:Agonistic Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D006224:Cricetinae; D004291:Dominance-Subordination; D007026:Hypothalamic Area, Lateral / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D013731:Territoriality; D014697:Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D012701:Serotonin