title: Influence of social dominance on self-stimulation behavior in male golden hamsters.
abstract: The effect of a socially dominant hamster on the self-stimulation behavior of the subordinate hamster was examined. After determining social ranking, six hamsters were trained to press a lever in an operant chamber in which a dominant hamster was presented over a grid wall. The threshold of rewarding effect was evaluated by using a descending series of current intensity as electrical reward. When a dominant hamster was present, the subordinate hamster showed a shift of intensity-response function to the right (higher intensity). The presence of a subordinate hamster did not influence the response in dominant hamsters. Furthermore, beta-carboline (FG-7142) (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, IP) caused a decrease in rewarding effect in dose-dependant manner. These results suggest that the presence of a dominant animal may have caused "a state of anxiety" somewhat similar to the anxiety caused by the benzodiazepine inverse agonist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kureta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002243:Carbolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006224:Cricetinae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D007026:Hypothalamic Area, Lateral / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D012653:Self Stimulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012930:Social Dominance
chemical_list: D001067:Appetite Depressants; D002243:Carbolines; C035874:FG 7142