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PubMed1982

Pharmaco-ethological analysis of agonistic behavior between resident and intruder mice: effect of anticholinergic drugs.

The resident-intruder paradigm was employed in order to evoke an agonistic behavior in mice. In this situation a resident male mouse has been cohabiting with a female for 5 weeks, and an intruder male mouse is introduced into the resident's home cage. A species-specific pattern of agonistic behavior was observed in all mice. The significance of cholinergic mechanisms in the mediation of the agonistic behavior was evaluated by pharmacological manipulations. Drugs were administered to resident mice. Scopolamine hydrobromide (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly suppressed the resident's aggressive episodes (offensive sideways posture, tail rattling and attack biting) in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the peripheral anticholinergic drug methylscopolamine nitrate (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 mg/kg, i.p.) was ineffective. On the other hand, the resident's locomotor activity and rearing response were significantly increased after the administration of scopolamine hydrobromide. The evidence suggests that brain cholinoceptive mechanisms may participate in the regulation of intraspecies aggressive behavior. However, it appears that other nonspecific behavioral effects of scopolamine cannot be ruled out.

Aggression↗

PubMed1988

Reduction of pig agonistic behavior by androstenone.

One hundred twenty-four prepuberal crossbred pigs were used in a series of behavioral bioassays to determine the minimum dose of androstenone (5 alpha-androst-16-en-3-one) that would reduce the level of agonistic behavior among dyads of newly regrouped pigs. Randomly selected females and castrated males were used in 21-h videotaped observation periods. In Exp. 1, isopropyl alcohol was tested against no aerosol to determine if the vehicle (isopropyl alcohol) influenced agonistic behavior. Level of submissive and aggressive behaviors were similar (P greater than .10) between treatments. In Exp. 2, vehicle or androstenone in vehicle was sprayed on the snout and head of both pigs at the start of the encounter. Four bioassays were performed with four levels (.05, .5, 5 and 50 micrograms/pig) of androstenone dissolved in isopropyl alcohol. Sprayed isopropyl alcohol served as a control. At concentrations of .5 and 5 micrograms/pig, androstenone reduced aggressive behavior (P less than .05). Androstenone had no consistent effect on submissive behavior. In Exp. 3, androstenone was sprayed on pigs at the start of the encounter and again at 30, 60 and 90 min after pairs of pigs were mixed. Repeated application of this androgen resulted in levels of agonistic behavior similar to those recorded when nothing was applied (P greater than .10). A single application of as little as .5 micrograms androstenone per pig reduced aggressive behavior among prepuberal pigs and, therefore, may be a way of reducing fighting among newly regrouped prepuberal pigs.

Aerosols↗

PubMed1988

Psychotropic effects of ginseng saponins on agonistic behavior between resident and intruder mice.

The psychotropic actions of crude ginseng saponins, pure ginsenoside Rb1 (GS-Rb1) and ginsenoside Rg1 (GS-Rg1) obtained from the root of Panax ginseng, were evaluated from their effects on agonistic behavior in mice. A resident-intruder test situation was used. When the resident mouse was treated with crude ginseng saponins (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg i.p.), aggressive episodes (offensive sideways posture and attack bite) were significantly suppressed in a dose-dependent manner. However, the agonistic behavior was not altered when the intruder was treated with crude ginseng saponins. GS-Rb1 (2.5, 5 ad 10 mg/kg i.p.) also significantly suppressed aggressive episodes when given to the resident, whereas GS-Rg1 (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg i.p.) was ineffective. Neither GS-Rb1 nor GS-Rg1 given to the intruder caused any significant changes in the behavior of the resident. Although the highest dose of crude ginseng saponins suppressed locomotion frequency, it appears that both crude ginseng saponins and GS-Rb1 possess a specific psychotropic action on agonistic behavior.

Aggression↗

PubMed1992

[Comparison of the effects of benzodiazepine and non-benzodiazepine anxiolytics on agonistic behavior in male mice].

The present study investigated whether there is any difference between the effects of benzodiazepine and non-benzodiazepine anxiolytics on agonistic behavior in male mice, using an ethopharmacological technique. Agonistic behavior was evoked using a resident-intruder paradigm. The effects of four doses of the following drugs were assessed in either resident or intruder mice: diazepam (vehicle, 1, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg, p.o.) and tandospirone (vehicle, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg, p.o.). Residents and intruders were drugged on alternate test days, and all animals received different sequences of each of the drug conditions according to a random schedule. The injection-test interval was 30 min. When a resident mice were treated with either diazepam or tandospirone, the frequency of attack bite was suppressed significantly in a dose-dependent manner. When intruder mice were treated with diazepam, attack bites by untreated residents were significantly increased, whereas tandospirone was ineffective. Although diazepam caused a significant decrease in both locomotion and rearing, tandospirone did not cause motor dysfunction. These evidence indicate that tandospirone, a 5-HT1A receptor agonist, has different pharmacological properties from diazepam.

Agonistic Behavior↗

PubMed1985

[Pharmaco-ethological analysis of agonistic behavior between resident and intruder mice: effects of adrenergic beta-blockers].

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of adrenergic beta-blockers on agonistic behavior using quantitative ethological methods. In order to generate the agonistic behavior we employed the resident-intruder paradigm: An intruder male mouse is introduced into the home cage of a resident male mouse that has been cohabiting with a female for 5 weeks. The following drugs were administered orally to either resident or intruder mice: dl-Propranolol, oxprenolol, and carteolol. The injection-test interval was 60 min. Each test was recorded using a video TV monitor system, and at a later time several behavioral elements shown by both resident and intruder mice were measured. dl-Propranolol (5, 10, 20 mg/kg), oxprenolol (30, 50, 75 mg/kg), and carteolol (30, 50, 75 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the resident's aggressive episodes (offensive sideways posture, tail rattle, and attack bite) when resident mice were treated. By contrast, when intruder mice were treated with beta-blockers, aggressive episodes by untreated residents were not affected. The results suggest that dl-propranolol, oxprenolol, and carteolol have specific effects on the hostility of resident mice.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1990

The effects of depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) on copulation-related and agonistic behaviors in an island colony of stumptail macaques (Macaca arctoides).

This study examined the effects on copulation-related and agonistic behaviors of repeated DMPA (depo-Provera) treatment of adult females in a heterosexual island colony of stumptail macaques (Macaca arctoides). Comparison of mean rates revealed a decrease in male approach to females and dominant male following of females after they were treated with DMPA. As treatment did not affect female genital present, female approach or follow of males, we conclude, consistent with earlier results, that DMPA primarily reduced female sexual attractiveness. DMPA treatment was also consistently associated with increased female agonistic behavior (i.e., low-level threat, bite, and fear grimace), with aggression directed primarily at subadults, juveniles, and infants. Treatment did not alter dominance relationships. These data suggest that DMPA treatment is associated with increased low-key contact aggression.

Aggression↗

PubMed1995

Interactive effect of food deprivation and agonistic behavior on blood parameters and muscle glycogen in pigs.

Agonistic behavior, neuroendocrine and plasma metabolite changes, and muscle glycogen content were studied in 16 fed and 16 24 h-fasted domestic Large White pigs (100 +/- 5 kg) submitted to dyadic encounters (30 min) in a novel environment. Comparisons were made with corresponding control pigs (eight fed and eight 24 h-fasted animals) kept under resting conditions. At rest, fasting resulted in a significant decrease in plasma insulin, increase in plasma-free fatty acids, and decrease in glycogen content in the predominantly red Semispinalis muscle. Fasted pigs displayed significantly more submissive acts than fed ones. In response to dyadic encounters, fed and fasted pigs showed similar rise in plasma levels of cortisol, catecholamines, and lactate, but stress-induced hyperglycemia was suppressed in food-deprived animals. Fasting enhanced stress-induced glycogen depletion in the predominantly white Longissimus muscle but this effect was significant only in fast-twitch glycolytic fibres (alpha W). In the Semispinalis of fasted pigs, however, dyadic encounters did not induce further glycogen depletion. The present findings suggest that in response to dyadic encounters, fasting-induced changes in glucose metabolism lead to a higher dependence on endogenous energy reserves, i.e., glycogen, in working muscles.

Agonistic Behavior↗

PubMed1995

A quantitative analysis of agonistic behavior in juvenile American lobsters (Homarus americanus L.).

In these studies a quantitative analysis of agonistic (fighting) behavior in lobsters in presented as a first step in our attempt to relate patterns of behavior to underlying neurobiological mechanisms. The agonistic behavior of juvenile American lobsters (Homarus americanus L.) was studied in laboratory tanks at the New England Aquarium. Using video analyses and statistical techniques: (1) an ethogram of agonistic behavior was constructed; and (2) the temporal structure of the behavior was identified. We demonstrated that fighting in juvenile lobsters proceeds according to strict rules of conduct. All animals exhibit six common behavioral patterns in a stereotypical manner. A temporal sequence of these patterns was evident, representing an increase in intensity during confrontations. The typical scenario of an encounter begins with extensive threat displays upon first contact, continues with periods of ritualized aggression and restrained use of the claws, and terminates in a brief session of unrestrained combat. Predictions of game theory (i.e. assessment strategies) provide a useful framework for the understanding of fighting in lobsters. The presence of a highly structured behavioral system may reduce the potential for damage in fights among conspecifics, and may prove useful in attempts to study the neurobiological causes of complex behavioral patterns such as aggression.

Aggression↗

PubMed1987

Effects of heat and social stressors and within-pen weight variation on young pig performance and agonistic behavior.

A total of 486 crossbred weanling pigs was used in a series of experiments to determine first the effects of heat and social stress and their interaction on pig performance and, second, to determine a possible cause for the observed effects. Pigs were held six/nursery pen and fed and watered ad libitum. In Exp. 1, pigs were held at either thermal neutral 26.6 C for the 21 d and 23.8 C for the final 7 d, or at the heat-stress temperature (32.2 C) for the entire 28-d period. Within each temperature treatment, one-half of the pigs were left as single-litter controls and one-half were randomly regrouped (social stress). Pig feed intake and weight gain were reduced (P less than .05) among heat-stress pigs during the 7- to 28-d and 0- to 28-d periods. The interaction between social and thermal stress was significant for gain:feed ratio for the 7- to 28- and 0- to 28-d periods. Regrouping depressed gain:feed ratio only among heat-stressed pigs. In Exp. 2, a two-pig behavioral bioassay was used to determine if agonistic behaviors were influenced by heat stress. Pigs that were regrouped into 32.2 C rooms exhibited reduced mean level (P less than .05) and variation (P less than .001) of submissive behavior. Duration of aggressive behavior and latency to attack were unaffected by thermal treatments. Increased social stress at the time of regrouping could not account for poor performance of heat-stressed, regrouped pigs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aggression↗

PubMed1996

Searching for candidate genes with effects on an agonistic behavior, offense, in mice.

It is well established that the agonistic behavior of offense in mice is heritable. However, few genes have been identified or mapped for offense. For segments of chromosomes with effects on offense, a positional candidate strategy can be used to find such genes. This approach is illustrated for the effect of the male specific part (nonpseudoautosomal region; NPAR) of the mouse Y chromosome on offense. It is proposed that a positional candidate for this effect is Sry. The Sry protein is a transcription factor. Its mRNA is expressed in fetal and adult brain. Its protein binds to response elements in the 5' end of the aromatase and the Fra1 genes. Each of these genes has potential effects on several brain neurotransmitter systems involved in offense. The NPAR Y chromosomes of several pairs of inbred strains have differential effects on offense. This hypothesis would be tested by sequencing Sry for some of these pairs of strains.

Aggression↗

PubMed2006

Environmental modification and agonistic behavior in NIH/S male mice: nesting material enhances fighting but shelters prevent it.

Outbred NIH/S male mice were housed from weaning in groups of 4 without enrichment (control) or with nesting material (nest), nesting material and a box (nest-and-box), or nesting material and a tube (nest-and-tube) as environmental modification. The aim of the study was to investigate effects of widely recommended nesting material and additional shelters on male mice. The aggressiveness of the mice in their home cages clearly increased in the nest group, as assessed by the number of wounds. In the nest group, fighting was a stressful situation for the mice, leading to changes in weight gain and in the weights of the thymus, adrenals, spleen, and epididymal adipose tissue. Moreover, the agonistic behavior of these mice toward an intruder was increased both in individual tests (an intruder with the individual mouse) and group tests (an intruder with a group of mice). The provision of a box or tube as a shelter, in addition to nesting material, prevented intracage fighting and did not lead to alterations in the weight gain or organ weights of the mice. However, the agonistic behavior of mice with shelters was slightly increased in behavioral tests. Anxiety in the elevated plus-maze was not affected by any of the housing systems. In conclusion, the agonistic behavior of NIH/S mice, an aggressive strain, seemed to be easily enhanced by these environmental modifications. The suitability of any enrichment should be carefully evaluated, especially when highly aggressive mice are used.

Aggression↗

PubMed1984

Neural systems and the inhibitory modulation of agonistic behavior: a comparison of mammalian species.

The olfactory bulb, lateral septum, medial accumbens, medial hypothalamus, dorsal and median raphe, and amygdala are known from experiments in rats to participate in the inhibitory modulation of defensiveness and predation but not social aggression. The present paper surveys the influence of these structures in the inhibitory control of these same dimensions of agonistic behavior in other species. The existing evidence suggests that lesions in the lateral septum, medial accumbens, medial hypothalamus, or the dorsal and median raphe (or PCPA-induced depletion or serotonin) induce hyperreactivity to the experimenter in mice, rats, cats, dogs, and humans in every instance where they have been tested with one exception. The exception is that lesions in the medial hypothalamus of mice do not induce heightened reactivity. The same lesions do not cause this dramatic increase in reactivity to the experimenter in gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, or rabbits but do heighten some other species typical patterns of defensiveness such as alarm calls and avoidance of contact with conspecifics. Lesions in these same areas in monkeys have not been observed to heighten defensive behaviors. Predatory killing or killing of young conspecifics has been observed in hamsters, mice, rats, and cats in every instance where they have been examined following lesions of the olfactory bulbs, lateral septum, medial accumbens, medial hypothalamus, or the dorsal and median raphe nuclei (or PCPA-induced depletion of serotonin). Social aggression has been decreased with these same lesions in each case where they have been examined except for septal lesions in hamsters which have been reported to heighten social aggression. Across species, the consistency with which lesions of the olfactory region, lateral septum, medial accumbens, medial hypothalamus, and dorsal and median raphe nuclei alter defensiveness and predation but not social aggression supports the inference that neural systems exist which subserve the inhibitory modulation of these dimensions of behavior. Finally, the evidence that the disruption of functioning within these structures in humans results in increased agonistic responses to environmental stimuli serves to further establish the important role of this neural circuitry in the normal inhibitory modulation of agonistic behavior in humans.

Aggression↗

PubMed1998

Y chromosome, urinary chemosignals, and an agonistic behavior (offense) of mice.

In mice, offense is one type of agonistic behavior associated with attacks. Offense of male mice was measured in a panel of testers design. The mice were DBA1 (D1) and DBA1.C57BL10-Y (D1.B10-Y). These are congenic for the male-specific, nonrecombining part of the Y chromosome. For the behavioral experiments, urine from D1 or D1.B10-Y mice was daubed on gonadectomized opponents. The opponents were of two genotypes, D1 or D1.B10-Y. The experimental subjects were of the same two genotypes. There were main effects for strain of experimental subject and strain of urine donor as well as interactions for strain of experimental subject x strain of gonadectomized opponent, strain of gonadectomized opponent x strain of urine donor, and strain of experimental subject x strain of gonadectomized opponent x strain of urine donor. These findings are consistent with a model in which this part of the Y chromosome affects testosterone-dependent pheromones and non-testosterone-dependent odor types acting as motivating stimuli, the olfactory perception of motivating stimuli for offense, and the motivational mechanism for offense.

Agonistic Behavior↗

PubMed2006

Experience-based agonistic behavior in female crickets, Gryllus bimaculatus.

Fighting behavior in male crickets is already well described, and some of the mechanisms underlying aggression and aggressive motivation have already been revealed. Much less is known about female/female interactions. Here, we report that adult female crickets that had been isolated for several days readily entered into agonistic interactions with conspecific individuals. Characteristic dyadic encounters between isolated females escalated in a stepwise manner and were concluded with the establishment of a dominant/subordinate relationship. For 15 to 30 minutes following an initial fight, former subordinate females showed a dramatic change in agonistic behavior. If they were paired with the former dominant opponent during this interval, a significant majority did not enter into any aggressive interaction but instead actively avoided the opponent. A similar experience-based and time-dependent increase in avoidance was observed when former subordinate females were paired with unfamiliar naïve opponents. However, when faced with an unfamiliar subordinate individual in the second encounter, no such increase in avoidance behavior was observed. We propose that the observed changes in the behavior of former subordinate females are the consequence of a change in the general state of arousal and of the recognition of dominance status, but not of individual recognition. The fact that former dominant individuals did not show similar experience-based changes in agonistic behavior suggests that dominant/subordinate relationships between pairs of female crickets are maintained mainly by the behavior of subordinate individuals.

Agonistic Behavior↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Compounds of novel structure having kappa-agonist behavioral effects in rhesus monkeys.

The kappa-agonist behavioral effects of several compounds were studied in rhesus monkeys and mice. Rhesus monkeys trained to discriminate ethylketazocine from saline responded as if ethylketazocine had been administered when given bridged oripavines with either N-allyl or N-cyclopropylmethyl, but not N-methyl, substituents. These compounds had C7 substitutions of either 2-hydroxy-2-pentyl or 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-2-hexyl. Monkeys also showed ethylketazocine-like responding when given U-50,488 (trans-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2- (1-pyrrolidinyl) cyclohexyl]-benzeneacetamide), a compound with an atypical structure not resembling any known narcotic. Additionally, ethylketazocine-like responding was produced by two 5,9-alpha dimethyl 6-7-benzomorphans with either an N-2-methoxyisobutyl or an N-2-methoxy-propyl substituent. The latter compound was the only compound active in producing ethylketazocine-like discriminative effects that also reversed morphine-withdrawal signs. The N-methyl bridged oripavines that were inactive in producing ethylketazocine-like discriminative effects reversed morphine withdrawal signs.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Lead exposure and agonistic behavior of adult mice of two ages.

Adult male Heterogeneous stock (HET) mice were exposed to a 0.5% lead acetate solution when they were either 65 or 330 days of age. Fifteen weeks later they were paired with same age (young or old) water control HET mice and tested for aggression. All pairs of younger mice fought and six out of eleven pairs of older mice exhibited agonistic behavior. Although not all pairs of mice which fought achieved dominance, when dominant/subordinate relationships were established, the younger adults exposed to lead typically were subordinate. In contrast, older adults exposed to lead were always dominant. Differences in agonistic behavior patterns also were noted, with younger adults displaying more frequent and longer bouts of fighting than the older mice.

Aggression↗

PubMed1979

The effects of alcohol on agonistic behavior in the Telomian dog.

The study analyzed the effects of alcohol on agonistic behavior in three independent social systems, each compromised of two male and one female Telomian dog. Three dose levels were used: 0, 0.8, and 1.6 g/kg body weight of absolute alcohol diluted to 20%. Observations were made when none, one (top, middle or low ranking), or all dogs in a system received a given treatment. At the 0.8 g/kg level, low ranking dogs showed an increased frequency of attacks and bone possession time, while top and middle ranking dogs showed a decrease. At the 1.6 g/kg level, all subjects decreased their attacks and bone possession time. Alcohol decreased frequency of agonistic vocalizations under all conditions. There were differential social rank effects on frequency of retreats. Overall, the results were similar whether one or all dogs received the particular treatment.

Aggression↗

PubMed1977

Long term reduction of male agonistic behavior in mice following early exposure to ethanol.

A system was developed to study the ability of early (pre- and neonatal) ethanol input to induce long lasting neural and behavioral changes. Ethanol was administered to E7b1/10bg and DBA/1Bg offspring through their parents who received 10% ethanol as their only liquid supply either before and during pregnancy, or from delivery until 14 days post partum, or during both periods. Thus, the offspring received ethanol transplacentally and/or through the mother's milk. The present paper is concerned with the male agonistic behavior at age 50 days of the treated offspring as compared with their pair fed controls. Early ethanol input resulted in a 23% increase in latency to attack in C57 mice and 58% in DBA, as well as a 49% (C57) and 38% (DBA) decrease in time spent fighting. The sensitive period to ethanol effect was apparently postnatal. Prenatal administration had no effect on agonistic behavior. DBA offspring were more aggressive than C57 and the scores of C57 offspring were more variable, thus indicating a lower phenotypic buffering in this strain.

Aggression↗