title: Antiaggressive effects of MPEP, a selective antagonist of mGlu5 receptors, in agonistic interactions between male mice.
abstract: mGlu5 receptors are highly concentrated in limbic brain structures involved in motivational and emotional behaviours. This study describes the effects of 2-methyl-6-(phenylethylnyl)pyridine (MPEP; 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg/kg, ip), a selective antagonist of the mGlu5 receptors, on agonistic behaviour elicited by isolation in male mice. Individually housed mice were exposed to anosmic opponents in a neutral area 30 min after drug administration. Besides other behaviours, the aggressive (threat and attack) and exploratory behaviours were evaluated during 10 min using an ethologically based analysis. MPEP produced a behavioural profile characterized by a notable decrement of offensive behaviours, accompanied by a significant increase of exploratory behaviours (nonsocial exploration and social investigation). These findings suggest a role for mGlu5 receptors in aggression modulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, Campus de Teatinos s/n, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain. navahuma@uma.es
authors.forename: José Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Postigo
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Estrella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Burón
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D000378:Agonistic Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D064529:Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D011725:Pyridines; D064529:Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; C121465:6-methyl-2-(phenylethynyl)pyridine