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Aggressive behaviour in chicks induced by tricyclic antidepressants

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Abstract

In the present study six antidepressant drugs were administered to 3–10 day old chicks and remarkable changes in behaviour observed. All drugs investigated induced hyperactivity. Imipramine, desipramine, protriptyline, nortriptyline and chlorimipramine produced, in addition, attack-pecking of rather long duration, while amitriptyline alone evoked hyperactivity. The aggressive behaviour is described, and the strength of the antidepressants is scored. Quantitative estimations of motor activity and attack-peeking were carried out with untreated and treated chicks. It is concluded that induction of aggressive behaviour in newly hatched chicks might serve as a useful test in the evaluation of new antidepressant drugs.

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  1. Department of Pharmacology, A/S Ferrosan, Sydmarken 5, Søborg, Denmark

    J. Schrold

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  1. J. Schrold
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Schrold, J. Aggressive behaviour in chicks induced by tricyclic antidepressants. Psychopharmacologia 17, 225–233 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402082

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402082

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