Activation of serotonergic neurotransmission during the performance of aggressive behavior in rats.
High aggression is often linked to lowered serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission. Although this may hold for high aggression as a trait characteristic of an individual, serotonergic activity is probably increased during performance of aggressive behavior. To test this hypothesis, first, the 5-HT1A agonist alnespirone and gamma aminobutyric acid-A agonist muscimol were administered into the dorsal raphe nucleus. These treatments, which inhibit 5-HT neuronal activity, were shown to decrease performance of aggressive behavior. Second, after a resident-intruder test, the activation of 5-HT neurons (measured by c-fos expression) was increased in high-aggressive rats, compared with low-aggressive rats or control rats that were not subjected to a social confrontation. Results show that performance of aggressive behavior increases 5-HT neuronal activity and that preventing this activation inhibits expression of aggressive behavior.
van der Vegt
Bea J
BJ
Department of Animal Physiology, University of Groningen, Biological Centre, Haren, The Netherlands. b.j.van.der.vegt@biol.rug.nl
Lieuwes
Natasja
N
van de Wall
Esther H E M
EH
Kato
Katsunori
K
Moya-Albiol
Luis
L
Martínez-Sanchis
Sonia
S
de Boer
Sietse F
SF
Koolhaas
Jaap M
JM
D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009118:Muscimol / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D013141:Spiro Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
D018755:GABA Agonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D013141:Spiro Compounds; D009118:Muscimol; D012701:Serotonin; C075319:alnespirone