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Behavioral alterations during prolonged low level continuous amphetamine administration in a monkey family group
Biological Psychiatry
|April 1, 1982
Summary
Continuous low-level amphetamine exposure in monkeys led to escalating behavioral changes, including increased staring and decreased social interaction, despite stable drug levels. This suggests prolonged intoxication can cause accumulating abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychopharmacology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Endogenous psychotomimetic compounds are hypothesized in human psychopathology.
- Animal models require demonstrating behavioral abnormalities with constant low drug levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate behavioral effects of prolonged, low-level d-amphetamine exposure in a socially housed monkey family.
- To assess if continuous psychotomimetic drug administration leads to accumulating behavioral abnormalities.
Main Methods:
- Subcutaneous implantation of slow-release d-amphetamine capsules in parent monkeys over 11 weeks.
- Observation of locomotion, visual behaviors, social interactions, and sleep patterns.
- In vitro drug release measurements to confirm capsule performance.
Main Results:
- Locomotion showed minimal changes.
- Staring behavior increased significantly (ten-fold) after 5-7 weeks.
- Social behaviors decreased, except for infant/female contact.
- Night sleep declined by approximately one-third for the first 8 weeks.
- Capsules confirmed sustained amphetamine release for ~8 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Prolonged, low-level amphetamine intoxication can induce progressively worsening behavioral abnormalities.
- This model supports the hypothesis of accumulating behavioral changes under continuous psychotomimetic drug exposure.