PubMed · 8083150
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D A Granger, J R Weisz, J T McCracken, D Kauneckis, S Ikeda. Testosterone and conduct problems.. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199407000-00020
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Aggressive behavior in male and female mice occurs in conflicts with intruding rivals, most often for the purpose of suppressing the reproductive success of the opponent. The behavioral repertoire of fighting is composed of intricately sequenced bursts of species-typical elements, with the resident displaying offensive and the intruder defensive acts and postures. The probability of occurrence as well as the frequency, duration, temporal and sequential patterns of aggressive behavior can be quantified with ethological methods. Classic selection and strain comparisons show the heritability of aggressive behavior, and point to the influence of several genes, including some of them on the Y chromosome. However, genetic effects on aggressive behavior critically depend upon the background strain, maternal environment and the intruder. These factors are equally important in determining changes in aggressive behavior in mice with a specific gene deletion. While changes in aggression characterize mutant mice involving a variety of genes, no pattern has emerged that links particular gene products (i.e. enzyme, peptide, receptor) to either an increase or a decrease in aggressive behavior, but rather emphasizes polygenic influences. A potentially common mechanism may be some components of the serotonin system, since alterations in 5-HT neurotransmission have been found in several of the KO mice that display unusual aggressive behavior.
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Serotonin (5-HT) levels in the hemolymph of crustaceans has been implied to alter aggressiveness which influences social interactions. The activation of IP3 as a second messenger cascade within crayfish motor neurons in response to application of 5-HT, suggests that the 5-HT receptor subtypes on the motor neurons are analogous to the vertebrate 5-HT2A receptors. Based on evidence in other systems, it would be expected that chronically sustained 5-HT levels in aggressive individuals would result in a compensatory negative feed-back regulation and/or that target tissues would diminish their sensitivity to high levels of circulating, free 5-HT. We addressed the issue of up- and down-regulation in the sensitivity of the responsiveness to exogenously applied 5-HT at the NMJs of crayfish in which the animals have altered endogenous 5-HT levels. Injections of the 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 vertebrate receptor agonist, 1-(3-Chlorophenyl) piperazine dihydrochloride (m-CPP), for 1 week resulted in a decreased responsiveness to application of 5-HT. The compound p-chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA) blocks the enzymatic synthesis of 5-HT and following 7 days of p-CPA injections, a super-sensitivity to exogenous application of 5-HT for both tonic and phasic neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) was observed. However, acute applications of p-CPA and m-CPP, followed by extensive saline washing, did not reveal any altered receptivity to 5-HT application.