Involvement of brain serotonin 5-HT1A receptors in genetic predisposition to aggressive behavior.
Experiments were performed on Norwegian rats selected over more than 59 generations for high and low levels of high-affective defensive aggressivity and on highly aggressive (offensive) Tg8 mice with irreversible monoamine oxidase A knockout. There were significant differences in the functional state and expression of 5-HT(1A) receptors between highly aggressive and non-aggressive animals. Functional activity assessed in terms of hypothermia evoked by a 5-HT(1A) agonist was significantly greater in non-aggressive rats and mice than in aggressive animals. The high level of functional activity in non-aggressive rats coincided with a greater level of expression of 5-HT(1A) receptors in the midbrain. The level of 5-HT(1A) receptor mRNA in aggressive mice was unchanged in the midbrain and hypothalamus and was increased in the frontal cortex and amygdaloid complex. These results led to the conclusion that 5-HT(1A) receptors play a significant role in the mechanisms of genetic predisposition to aggressive behavior.
Behavioral Neurogenetics Laboratory, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk. npopova@bionet.nsc.ru
N K
NK
Popova
V S
VS
Naumenko
I Z
IZ
Plyusnina
D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000172:deficiency; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; C011799:5-hydroxy-2-N,N-dipropylaminotetralin; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase