Cerebral glucose metabolism, CSF 5-HIAA levels, and aggressive behavior in rhesus monkeys.
OBJECTIVE
Considerable evidence suggests that low concentrations of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in CSF are associated with a history of aggressive behavior in both human and nonhuman primates. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationships among CSF 5-HIAA concentration, history of aggressive behavior, and cerebral glucose metabolism in a group of nonhuman primates whose CSF 5-HIAA had been sampled several times over the preceding 2 years and whose social behavior had been observed since birth.


METHODS
The subjects were nine adult male rhesus monkeys studied under isoflurane anesthesia. Cerebral glucose utilization was measured by [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Aggressiveness ratings were made by a primatologist who had had frequent contact with the animals over several years.


RESULTS
There was a significant negative correlation between ratings of aggressive behavior and CSF 5-HIAA concentrations. There was also a negative correlation between the dose of pentobarbital required to induce anesthesia and level of CSF 5-HIAA. Moreover, there were significant negative correlations between CSF 5-HIAA levels and both whole brain glucose utilization and regional glucose utilization in the orbital-frontal cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that both increased aggressiveness and low concentrations of CSF 5-HIAA are associated with higher brain glucose metabolism in rhesus monkeys under standardized anesthesia. Aggressive nonhuman primates with low CSF 5-HIAA concentrations may have "innate" tolerance toward functional gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor agonists such as pentobarbital, isoflurane, and possibly alcohol.
Doudet
D
D
Laboratory of Cerebral Metabolism, NIMH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Hommer
D
D
Higley
J D
JD
Andreason
P J
PJ
Moneman
R
R
Suomi
S J
SJ
Linnoila
M
M
D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004361:Drug Tolerance / Q000235:genetics; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000494:pharmacology; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000187:drug effects; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D018079:Receptors, GABA; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D000431:Ethanol; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D003847:Deoxyglucose; D007530:Isoflurane; D010424:Pentobarbital; D005947:Glucose