title: Serotonin regulation of aggressive behavior in male golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus).
abstract: These studies examined the neurochemistry and neuroanatomy of the serotonin (5-HT) system innervating the anterior hypothalamus (AH) and the interaction of 5-HT receptor agonists with arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the regulation of offensive aggression in golden hamsters. Because specific 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, and AVP V1A binding sites were observed within the AH by in vitro autoradiography, the hamsters were tested for offensive aggression after microinjections of AVP in combination with either the 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetraline (DPAT) or the 5-HT1B agonist CGS-12066A (CGS) directly within the AH. Though treatment with DPAT resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of AVP-facilitated offensive aggression, CGS was ineffective. In addition, a retrograde tracer was injected within the AH to localize the distribution of 5-HT neurons projecting to the area. Retrogradely labeled 5-HT neurons were found within the dorsal, median, and caudal linear raphe nuclei and are suspected to inhibit AVP-facilitated offensive aggression by an activation of 5-HT1A receptors in the AH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01655, USA. CFerris@banyan.ummed.edu
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ferris
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stolberg
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Delville
mesh_terms: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000374:Aggression; D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D006224:Cricetinae; D007032:Hypothalamus, Anterior / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011810:Quinoxalines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; C052561:CGS 12066B; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D012701:Serotonin; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin