Serotoninergic depletion generates aggressive behaviour in male Sprague Dawley rats.

MULLE BERNEDO, M. B.; GARCIA, S; CABRERA, R; ASTORGA, V

Paris

Congreso; ISN-ESN MEETING 2017; 2017

International Society of Neurochemestry

The serotoninergic system modulates appetitive, motivational and aggressive behaviours. The 5-HT synthesis reduction by drugs increase aggressive behaviour in species and strains with higth sensitivity/ reactivity to it prone to it.In this study we attempted 1- to generate aggressive behaviour with p-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA) by inhibiting tryptophan hydroxylase, and 2- to examine day response related to 5-HT depletion.Male Sprague-Dawley 60 days old rats were used. A resident/ intruder paradigm was tested applied. Animals were divided into 5 groups: Naïve, pCPA treated rats (300 mg/kg, i.p) evaluated on the 3rd and 6th day after the pCPA administration, and the respective saline control.Offensive behaviours (OB) was measured as attempted mounts, lateral threats and footsteps. Persecution latency time (PLT) was examined as a different parameter of OB. Bites, clinch and clinch attacks were considered as aggressive behaviours (AB). We also WHILE measured non-social interaction (freezing, lying, sitting and grooming), social interaction (sniffing and heterogrooming) and locomotor activity. The test was recorded and the videos were analysed with Kinovea 0.8.15 software (free access. All data were analysed by ANOVA I and Tukey post Hoc test.We observed a significant decrease in PLT (p≤ 0.001) and a significant increase (p≤ 0.001) in OB between (the) treated, control and naïve groups. There was a significant increase (p≤ 0.05) of AB between the (treated) groups tested on the 3rd and 6thday (after treatment). There were no significant differences in social interaction, non-social interaction and locomotor activity. The depletion of 5-HT affects OB, PLT and AB. This is related to dose/day response, suggesting that a certain 5-HT level is necessary to generate aggressive behaviour.