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Related Experiment Videos

Serotonin reverses dominant social status.

E T Larson1, C H Summers

  • 1Department of Biology and Neuroscience Group, University of South Dakota, 414 E. Clark Street, 57069-2390, Vermillion, SD, USA

Behavioural Brain Research
|March 29, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Chronic elevation of serotonin, using sertraline, can alter social status in Anolis lizards. Specifically, treating dominant males with sertraline reversed their status, reducing aggression and slowing color change, indicating social plasticity.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • Social stress impacts brain function differently in dominant and subordinate male Anolis carolinensis.
  • Serotonin levels and activation patterns in specific brain regions vary based on social status and aggression.
  • The speed of postorbital coloration change predicts aggressive behavior outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if chronic serotonin elevation, induced by sertraline, can decrease aggressiveness and change social status in male Anolis lizards.
  • To determine the effects of targeted sertraline administration on social hierarchy and aggressive behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Established dominant-subordinate relationships in male Anolis carolinensis pairs.
  • Administered the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor sertraline or a vehicle control for one week to dominant males, subordinate males, both, or neither.

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  • Reintroduced pairs and recorded social status, aggressive behaviors, and latency of eyespot darkening.

    • Main Results:

    • Treating dominant males alone with sertraline reversed social status in 43% of cases and negated it in 57%.
    • Sertraline treatment in dominant males significantly retarded eyespot darkening and reduced aggressive displays and attacks.
    • Treating subordinate males or both males with sertraline did not alter established social relationships.

    Conclusions:

    • Chronic elevation of serotonin is associated with subordinate social status and reduced aggression.
    • Social status and aggressive disposition are not fixed and can be modified by neuroendocrine mechanisms.
    • These findings suggest that neuroendocrine pathways mediate adaptation to social stress and environmental conditions.