[Animal models of aggression and serotonin receptor subtypes]

Aggressive behavior is an intrinsic behavior of most animals. A number of animal models of aggression have been used to evaluate the effectiveness of anxiolytics and antidepressants in the preclinical trials. These models interested investigators in search of the mechanism of presentation of aggression. Over the past decade, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) receptor subtypes have been identified. Various serotonergic agents have been tested, and some of them successfully reduced aggressive behavior in animal models of aggression. These include 5-HT1A receptor agonists. In the present review, after a description of various animal models of aggression is given, authors overview the role of serotonergic mechanism in the CNS and discuss its relation to aggressive behaviors.