The results highlight the 5-HT(1B) receptors in the VO PFC as a particularly important site for the inhibition of species-typical aggressive behavior in male mice.
Rationale
Higher doses of benzodiazepines and alcohol induce sedation and sleep; however, in low to moderate doses these drugs can increase aggressive behavior.
Objectives
To assess firstly the effects of ethanol, secondly the effects of flunitrazepam, a so-called club drug, and thirdly the effects of flunitrazepam plus alcohol on aggression in mice and rats.
Methods
Exhaustive behavioral records of confrontations between a male resident and a male intruder were obtained twice a week, using CF-1 mice and Wistar rats. The salient aggressive and non-aggressive elements in the resident´s reperetoire were analyzed. Initially, the effects of ethanol (1.0 g/kg), and secondly flunitrazepam (0; 0.01; 0.1; and 0.3 mg/kg) were determined in all mice and rats; subsequently, flunitrazepam or vehicle, given intraperitoneally (0; 0.01; 0.1; and 0.3 mg/kg) was administered plus ethanol 1.0 g/kg or vehicle via gavage.
Results
The most significant finding is the escalation of aggression after a moderate dose of ethanol, and a low dose of flunitrazepam. The largest increase in aggressive behaviour occurred after combined flunitrazepam plus ethanol treatment in mice and rats.
Conclusions
Ethanol can heighten aggressive behavior and flunitrazepam further increases this effect in male mice and rats.
The availability of a new specific anti 5HT-2 compound, ritanserin (RTS), led us to further investigate the role of serotonin in controlling PRL secretion. The drug was administered to normoprolactinaemic subjects and to patients with differing hyperprolactinaemic conditions. While RTS failed to modify PRL levels in normoprolactinaemic subjects and in patients with PRL-secreting pituitary adenomas, a marked decrease in the hormone was obtained in patients with functional and puerperal hyperprolactinaemia. The lack of effect of RTS in PRL-secreting pituitary adenomas suggests that the reported suppression of PRL by other antiserotoninergic drugs, such as metergoline, is probably due to their concomitant dopaminergic activity.
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