Serotonin regulation of aggressive behavior in male golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

• Published in: Behavioral neuroscience Vol. 113; no. 4; p. 804
• Main Authors: Ferris, C F, Stolberg, T, Delville, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.1999
• Subjects: 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin - administration & dosage; Aggression; Animals; Arginine Vasopressin - administration & dosage; Behavior, Animal; Cricetinae; Hypothalamus, Anterior - anatomy & histology; Hypothalamus, Anterior - metabolism; Male; Mesocricetus; Neural Pathways - anatomy & histology; Neural Pathways - metabolism; Neurotransmitter Agents - administration & dosage; Quinoxalines - administration & dosage; Raphe Nuclei - anatomy & histology; Raphe Nuclei - metabolism; Receptors, Serotonin - metabolism; Serotonin - metabolism; Serotonin Receptor Agonists - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0735-7044
• DOI: 10.1037/0735-7044.113.4.804

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.