title: Serotonin function is associated with behavioral response to a novel conspecific in marmosets.
abstract: The function of the central nervous system neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) contributes to individual differences in impulsive behavior in humans and nonhuman primates. We investigated the relationship between 5-HT function and behavioral responses to a novel social scenario in marmosets. In the first study, marmosets (n=10) were treated orally with fluoxetine HCl (FLX) or vehicle for two trial periods and exposed to a novel conspecific for a 20-min trial following each treatment. Levels of behavioral inhibition in response to a novel conspecific were quantified. The animals exhibited less inhibition toward the novel conspecific following the 14-day FLX treatment than they did following the vehicle treatment. In the second study we first characterized the parameters of the marmoset peripheral 5-HT system and further assessed the relationship between natural variation in peripheral 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels with behavioral inhibition in response to a novel conspecific (n=14). Individual peripheral 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels were higher in animals that exhibited more inhibition in response toward the stranger. We conclude that serotonergic influences play a role in behavioral response to a novel conspecific in marmosets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Elkinnally@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Kinnally
authors.forename: Heather A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Jennifer H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ewing
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: French
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002144:Callithrix / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D005473:Fluoxetine; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid