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Serotonin function is associated with behavioral response to a novel conspecific in marmosets
Author(s) -
Kinnally Erin L.,
Jensen Heather A.,
Ewing Jennifer H.,
French Jeffrey A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
american journal of primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1098-2345
pISSN - 0275-2565
DOI - 10.1002/ajp.20281
Subject(s) - marmoset , serotonergic , serotonin , neurotransmitter , fluoxetine , biology , neuroscience , behavioral inhibition , psychology , peripheral , callithrix , central nervous system , endocrinology , medicine , ecology , biochemistry , anxiety , receptor , psychiatry
The function of the central nervous system neurotransmitter serotonin (5‐HT) contributes to individual differences in impulsive behavior in humans and nonhuman primates. We investigated the relationship between 5‐HT function and behavioral responses to a novel social scenario in marmosets. In the first study, marmosets (n=10) were treated orally with fluoxetine HCl (FLX) or vehicle for two trial periods and exposed to a novel conspecific for a 20‐min trial following each treatment. Levels of behavioral inhibition in response to a novel conspecific were quantified. The animals exhibited less inhibition toward the novel conspecific following the 14‐day FLX treatment than they did following the vehicle treatment. In the second study we first characterized the parameters of the marmoset peripheral 5‐HT system and further assessed the relationship between natural variation in peripheral 5‐HT and 5‐HIAA levels with behavioral inhibition in response to a novel conspecific (n=14). Individual peripheral 5‐HT and 5‐HIAA levels were higher in animals that exhibited more inhibition in response toward the stranger. We conclude that serotonergic influences play a role in behavioral response to a novel conspecific in marmosets. Am. J. Primatol. 68:812–824, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.