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Effects of phencyclidine on aggressive behavior in mice
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
|September 1, 1982
Summary
Phencyclidine (PCP) does not increase aggression in mice; high doses decrease it. PCP-treated intruders provoke more aggression, and PCP-induced hyperactivity is linked to dopamine systems.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Phencyclidine (PCP) is a dissociative drug with complex effects on behavior.
- Understanding PCP's impact on aggression and its underlying mechanisms is crucial for clinical and research purposes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of phencyclidine (PCP) on aggressive behavior in mice.
- To explore the potential mechanisms of action, including the role of dopaminergic and serotonergic systems.
Main Methods:
- Administered varying doses of PCP to resident and intruder mice.
- Observed and quantified aggressive behaviors (attacks) and locomotion.
- Utilized haloperidol and methysergide as pre-treatments to investigate neurotransmitter involvement.
Main Results:
- PCP (10.0 mg/kg) significantly decreased resident mouse attacks on intruders.
- High doses of PCP (6.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) increased locomotion, with effects varying by time post-administration.
- PCP-treated intruders elicited increased aggression from non-drugged residents.
- Haloperidol partially blocked PCP-induced hyperactivity, while methysergide did not.
Conclusions:
- PCP does not enhance but rather suppresses aggressive behavior in mice at high doses.
- PCP-induced hyperactivity is likely mediated by dopaminergic pathways.
- Neurotransmitter systems other than those targeted by methysergide are involved in PCP's effects on aggression.