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Biomedical subjects

D Benton

Publications and source records attributed to D Benton.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Effect of vitamin and mineral supplementation on intelligence of a sample of schoolchildren.

90 schoolchildren aged twelve and thirteen years kept a dietary diary for three days. In most cases the average intake of vitamins was close to the recommended daily allowance, although for a minority the intake was low; with minerals the recommended daily allowance was less commonly achieved. To examine the possibility that deficiency of dietary minerals and vitamins was preventing optimum psychological function, a multivitamin/mineral supplement or a placebo was administered double-blind for eight months to 60 of the children. The supplement group, but not the placebo group or the remaining 30 who took no tablets, showed a significant increase in non-verbal intelligence.

Child↗
PubMed1988

The influence of psychotropic drugs on the ultrasonic calling of mouse pups.

The influence of a range of commonly used psychotherapeutic drugs on the ultrasonic calling of mouse pups was assessed. The major tranquilizers chlorpromazine and haloperidol were without effect. Whereas tranylcypromine and imipramine were also inactive, amitriptyline suppressed the rate of calling. Some anxiolytic compounds such as meprobamate and amobarbital were without influence, although others such as diazepam, chlordiazepoxide and ipsapirone decreased the number of calls. The influence of these drugs on body temperature was measured, as it is known to markedly influence the rate of ultrasonic calling. Although six out of ten drugs decreased body temperature, there was no evidence that this was related to the rate of ultrasonic calling. The possibility that the recording of ultrasonic calls could be used to screen for psychotropic activity is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Hypoglycemia and aggression: a review.

The popular notion that a tendency to develop low levels of blood glucose is the cause of a range of behavioral problems is reviewed. It is concluded that it is inappropriate to use the glucose tolerance test as a test of the tendency to develop reactive hypoglycemia. Instead, a meal tolerance test, in which glucose is administered in the presence of fat and protein, should be the method of choice. The use of a meal tolerance test strongly suggests that reactive hypoglycemia rarely results, except in a few exceptional individuals. Three situations are described in which a correlation between a tendency to develop moderately low levels of blood glucose during a glucose tolerance test (not hypoglycemic values) and the tendency to act aggressively have been reported. The significance of these data is unclear but several possible mechanisms by which glucose may influence behavior are discussed.

Aggression↗
PubMed1988

A reexamination of the hypoglycemia-aggression hypothesis in laboratory mice.

The suggestion of a clinical link between hypoglycemia and aggression has been recently encouraged by the work of Virkkunen and others. Modern techniques have impressively established a correlation between reactive hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels engendered by stimulation of endogenous insulin secretion) and hostility as expressed in a variety of situations. It is not surprising that blood sugar levels influence behavior, as the brain is entirely dependent on glucose reaching it via the vascular system. In spite of this impressive link, there are remarkably few successful studies involving the effects of manipulating glucose levels on fighting in infrahuman animals. As there have been several methodological developments in this area it was thought appropriate to reinvestigate such phenomena in mice. The effects of injected bovine insulin and glucose were assessed using an ethopharmacological methodology applied to social encounters by isolated male Swiss mice with docile anosmic opponents. Although manipulation of blood glucose levels did not consistently change attack or defensive behavior, these treatments did modify aspects of the interactions.

Aggression↗
PubMed1988

Endogenous opioids and the exercise-induced augmentation of natural killer cell activity.

Based on prior observations that both beta-endorphin and exercise stimulate natural killer (NK) cell activity, we have examined the hypothesis that the release of endogenous opioids during the stress of acute exercise may mediate this NK cell augmentation. Eight healthy young women underwent a maximal bicycle ergometer exercise test with prior in vivo administration of a placebo and an opioid antagonist, naloxone (100 micrograms/kg), in a randomized, blind protocol. Exercise after the placebo injection was accompanied by a dramatic rise in NK activity, as well as an increase in the percentage of lymphocytes bearing the NK cell surface markers Leu 11a and Leu 19. Significant stimulation of NK activity was observed with beta-endorphin in vitro before exercise, but after exercise, beta-endorphin had a nonsignificant inhibitory effect. When these experiments were carried out in the presence of naloxone in vivo, the rise in NK activity after exercise was no longer significant. Naloxone did not significantly alter the rise in Leu 11a+ or Leu 19+ cell after exercise, as compared with the placebo. Finally, when naloxone was given to the subjects beforehand, exercise no longer completely blocked the in vitro beta-endorphin stimulation of NK cells. In conclusion, our observations that the exercise-induced augmentation of NK activity and the lack of effect of beta-endorphin in vitro on NK activity after exercise are both significantly attenuated by prior administration of naloxone suggest that the opioid system may play a major role in the modulation of NK cells during physiologic stress.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Glucose improves attention and reaction to frustration in children.

There have been many suggestions that both dietary sugar and the level of blood glucose may be associated with abnormal behaviour. To examine this question 60 six- and seven-year old children were given a drink that contained either 25 grams of glucose or a placebo towards the end of the school day. They were then subjected to one test that required sustained attention and to a second that was intentionally frustrating. Those given the drink containing glucose were more capable of sustaining attention and showed fewer signs of frustration.

Attention↗
PubMed1986

Effects of gender, gonadectomy and social status on attack directed towards female intruders by resident mice.

Small unisexed groups (triads) of either male of female Swiss strain mice attack lactating intruders introduced into their home-cages. Female residents are, however, generally much more aggressive towards such intruders than are males. Ovariectomy of female residents (on day 15 or day 50 of life) has little effect on such responses, but castration of male residents significantly increases their attack on lactating intruders to a level resembling that of females. The introduction of the lactating female into the home-cage of sham-operated or gonadectomized male or female residents also enhances intragroup fighting with males (irrespective of their endocrine status) being the more aggressive. Finally, the social status of the male alters the response towards lactating females. Dominants generally show higher levels of attack, an effect that can be augmented by castration.

Aggression↗
PubMed1986

Effects of androstenol on human sexual arousal.

The hypothesis that 5-alpha-androst-16-en-3 alpha-ol increases the sexual arousal of the human female was examined. This substance is produced by the male and has been suggested to be a possible human pheromone. Groups of female subjects were asked to read either a neutral or a sexually-arousing passage in the presence of either androstenol or a placebo. Although sexual arousal was clearly manipulated by the experimental conditions, there was no evidence that androstenol influenced sexual feelings.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Comparisons of the influence of morphine sulphate, morphine-3-glucuronide and tifluadom on social encounters in mice.

The influences of morphine sulphate, morphine-3-glucuronide and tifluadom on social encounters were compared in male and female mice that were allowed to interact with an anosmic male partner. The drugs were compared, as morphine sulphate is thought to act via mu, and tifluadom via kappa opiate receptors; morphine-3-glucuronide is the breakdown product of morphine. Neither morphine sulphate nor morphine-3-glucuronide significantly influenced inter-male social encounters. However, tifluadom increased non-social and decreased social behaviour, while increasing timid/defensive activities. Tifluadom did not significantly influence the behaviour of female mice in this social encounter: in contrast both morphine sulphate and morphine-3-glucuronide decreased timid/defensive behaviour and stimulated non-social behaviour. It was concluded that the results could be explained by suggesting that morphine sulphate decreases whereas tifluadom increases timidity.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Mu and kappa opiate receptor involvement in agonistic behaviour in mice.

The influence of opioid drugs on agonistic behaviour is reviewed and an experiment is reported that examines the impact of U-50488 (a kappa agonist) and DAGO (a mu agonist) on the social encounters of male and female mice interacting with anosmic male partners. Although DAGO did not significantly influence inter-male social encounters, U-50488 decreased social investigation, increased timid/defensive behaviour and potently suppressed aggression. In contrast, U-50488 did not significantly influence the behaviour of timid female mice, whereas DAGO decreased social and timid/defensive behaviour. It was concluded that a kappa mechanism increases whereas a mu mechanism decreases submissive behaviour.

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗
PubMed1985

An ethological analysis of the effects of tifluadom on social encounters in male albino mice.

The effects of treatment with saline, 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg of tifluadom were assessed 30 min after injection on the behaviors shown by isolated Alderly Park strain mice in their home cages in the presence of an anosmic 'standard opponent' mouse. Tests involved videotaping encounters and examining the incidences of 45 behavioral elements and their sequences (by producing 'dendrograms'). The kappa agonist appeared to stimulate olfactory exploration of the substrate at the expense of other forms of non-social exploration; it suppressed olfactory investigation of the 'standard opponent'; reduced some aggressive elements and increased immobility (at reportedly non-sedative doses) and fearful activity. The 'dendrograms' revealed that tifluadom greatly altered the relationships between some elements. The higher dose of the kappa agonist resulted in self-grooming and digging (displacement?) being associated with the agonistic items suggesting that these animals evidenced increased timidity in social encounters.

Aggression↗
PubMed1985

Pre-natal administration of diazepam improves radial maze learning in mice.

A number of studies have found that the peri-natal exposure of rodents to diazepam alters their adult behaviour. Adult male mice, treated with diazepam or appropriate controls during pregnancy, were examined in terms of their ability to learn a radial maze. Those animals receiving diazepam prior, but not after birth, learnt the maze significantly more rapidly. The results are discussed in terms of the possible involvement of the hippocampus in this influence of diazepam.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1984

Comparison in the mouse of the effect of the opiate delta receptor antagonist ICI 154129 and naloxone in tests of extinction, passive avoidance and food intake.

The effects of 30 and 80 mg/kg ICI 154,129, an opiate delta receptor antagonist, were compared with those of 0.1 and 10 mg/kg naloxone using tests of food-intake, passive avoidance and extinction in mice. Whereas naloxone depressed food intake and facilitated extinction, ICI 154,129 failed to affect food intake, passive avoidance or extinction although the mice reared significantly more during the test of food intake.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Comparison of the influence of the opiate delta receptor antagonist, ICI 154,129, and naloxone on social interaction and behaviour in an open field.

The influence of a novel opiate delta receptor antagonist, ICI 154,129, and naloxone on social interaction and on behaviour in an open field were compared. At a dose thought to optimally block the delta receptor, ICI 154,129 produced open field behaviour typical of a non-emotional animal: this drug decreased social investigation and the latency to attack. In contrast, naloxone was largely without effect in these tests.

Animals↗