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Ethopharmacological studies of the effects of β‐carbolines and benzodiazepines on murine aggression
Author(s) -
Poshivalov V. P.,
Nieminen S. A.,
Airaksinen M. M.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
aggressive behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.223
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1098-2337
pISSN - 0096-140X
DOI - 10.1002/1098-2337(1987)13:3<141::aid-ab2480130304>3.0.co;2-6
Subject(s) - neurochemical , diazepam , serotonergic , aggression , benzodiazepine , inverse agonist , agonist , psychology , pharmacology , chemistry , serotonin , intraspecific competition , psychiatry , medicine , biochemistry , neuroscience , biology , receptor , ecology
The behavioral profiles generated by a benzodiazepine (BDZ) agonist (diazepam), an “inverse” agonist (β‐carboline‐3‐carboxylate ethyl ester, βC‐3‐CEE), and dihydro‐(DHβCs) and tetrahydro‐β‐carbolines (THβCs) were investigated on aggressive isolated mice using a computerized ethopharmacological technique. Augmentation of intraspecific sociability with a concurrent reduction of aggression are characteristic features of diazepam's effects, whereas βC‐3‐CEE exerts the opposite effects. βC‐3‐CEE countered the prosocial activity of diazepam and had intrinsic activities on intraspecific behaviour. Some DHβCs (harmalol and 6‐methoxy‐harmalan) and THβCs (1‐methyl‐6‐hydroxy‐THβC and tetrahydronorharmane) may exacerbate aggression at low (BDZ‐negative) doses (1 mg/kg), and inhibit such behavior at higher (serotonin‐positive) doses (10‐15 mg/kg). The ethological profiles of DHβCs were different from the profiles of THβCs. Differences in ethological profiles of βC‐3‐CEE, DHβCs, and THβCs seem to reflect the neurochemical (mainly BDZ‐and serotonergic) properties of these substances.