γ-Aminobutyric acid in brain areas of isolated aggressive or non-aggressive inbred strains of mice

• Published in: Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 57 - 61
• Main Authors: Simler, S., Puglisi-Allegra, S., Mandel, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 1982
• Subjects: Aggression; Aggressive behavior; Animals; Brain Chemistry; GABA; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - analysis; Humans; Inbred mouse strains; Isolation; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL - genetics; Mice, Inbred DBA - genetics; Mice, Inbred Strains - genetics; Species Specificity; Tissue Distribution; GABA; Isolation; Aggressive behavior; Inbred mouse strains
• ISSN: 0091-3057; 1873-5177
• DOI: 10.1016/0091-3057(82)90013-2

In order to investigate the effects of social isolation on aggressive behavior and GABA levels in different brain areas, inbred mice of the C57 B1/6 and the DBA/2 strains were housed inidividually over a period of 8 weeks. Social isolation induced a clear increase of aggressive responses only in the DBA/2 strain and a decrease of GABA levels in septum, striatum, olfactory bulb and posterior colliculus in both the C57B1/6 and in the DBA/2 strains. An increase of neurotransmitter concentration was observed in amygdala of DBA mice. DBA mice when compared when compared to C57 mice showed significantly lower levels of GABA in olfactory bulb and striatum. These results are discussed in light of several previous studies which have pointed out a correlation between a deficiency of GABA mediated inhibition in some brain areas and different kinds of aggressive behavior as well as the possibility of blockade of aggressive behavior by potentiation of GABAergic mediated inhibition. A possible suggestion emerging from our results is that the aggressive responses exhibited by isolated DBA mice but not by isolated C57 mice may be related to lower levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter in the olfactory bulb and striatum.