Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Agonistic behavior: A model, experimental studies, and perspectives

  • Published:
Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Agonistic (competitive) behavior includes the manifestations of aggression and submissiveness by individuals in conflict situations and is a universal form of behavior found in animals of different species. The sensory contact model allows aggressive and submissive (inhibited, suppressed) types of behavior to be formed in male mice as a result of acquisition of repeated experience of social conquests or defeats in daily aggressive interactions. Chronic experience of aggression is accompanied by total activation of the dopaminergic systems in the victors. At the same time, experience of social defeat leads to changes in the state of the serotoninergic and noradrenergic systems of various parts of the brains of the defeated animals. As a consequence, significant differences in emotional expression, movement activity, investigative activity, communicative ability, alcohol consumption, and many physiological aspects were found in animals of opposite social groups. The extent and nature of these changes depended on the type of social behavior formed by the animals (victors, vanquished), the duration of confrontational experience, and the genetically determined characteristics of the animals (i.e., which line of mice). The possibilities and perspectives of this model of sensory contact in medical-biological and basic investigations is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. D. F. Avgustinovich, T. P. Lipina, O. V. Alekseenko, T. G. Amstislavskaya, and N. N. Kudryavtseva, “Characteristics of the functional activity of the serotoninergic system of the brain in natural and pathological anxiety in mice: the effects of genotype,”Zh. Vyssh. Nerv. Deyat.,48, No. 2, 331–341 (1998).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. O. V. Alekseenko, D. F. Avgustinovich, and T. V. Lipina, “The involvement of brain D1 and D2 receptors in the development of experimental depression induced by social confrontation (DISC) in mice,”Zh. Vyssh. Nerv. Deyat., (1998) (in press).

  3. E. L. Al'perina and T. A. Pavina, “Changes in the immune reactivity of C57BL/6 mice after social interactions,”Byull. Éksp. Biol. Med.,11, 541–543 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  4. I. V. Bakshtanovskaya and N. N. Kudryavtseva, “The strategy of submissive behavior in male mice: the effects of genotype and experience of previous agonistic conflicts,”Biol. Nauki,11, 73–79 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  5. I. V. Bakshtanovskya and E. M. Khudakova, “Features of the reactions of the male reproductive system to exposure to chronic emotional stress,” Report to the NIR, Institute of Problems in the Development of the North [in Russian], Tyumen' (1992), pp. 25–40.

  6. V. I. Kaledin and N. N. Kudryavtseva, “Social conflict and tumor growth,”Dokl. Ros. Akad. Nauk,234, No. 5, 1117–1120 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  7. V. I. Kaledin, N. N. Kudryavtseva, I. V. Bakshtanovskaya, “Anxiety as a possible factor changing offspring sex ratios: phenomena of the war years,”Dokl. Ros. Akad. Nauk 239, No. 1, 100–102 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  8. N. N. Kudryavtseva,Features of the Formation of Agonistic Behavior in Mice Using a Sensory Contact Model [in Russian], Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  9. N. N. Kudryavtseva, T. G. Amstislavskaya, D. F. Avgustinovich, I. V. Bakshtanovskaya, T. V. Pipina, O. V. Gorbach, and L. A. Koryakina, “The effects of chronic experience of victory and defeat in social conflicts on the state of the mouse brain serotoninergic system,”Zh. Vyssh. Nerv. Deyat.,46, No. 6, 1088–1096 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  10. N. N. Kudryavtseva, T. G. Amstislavskaya, T. V. Lipina, and D. F. Avgustonovich, “Changes in the activity of brain tryptophan hydroxylase during the formation of the aggressive type of behavior in male mice,”Dokl. Ros. Akad. Nauk,357, No. 3, 424–426 (1997).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. N. N. Kudryavtseva and I. V. Bakshtanovskaya,Development of a Depression-Like State in Submissive C57BL/6J Mice [in Russian], Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  12. N. N. Kudryavtseva and I. V. Bakshtanovskaya, “The effects of prior experience of chemical communication on the responsiveness of two lines of mice to pheromones,”Sensor. Sistemy,3, No. 2, 135–141 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  13. N. N. Kudryavtseva and I. V. Bakshtanovskaya, “The neurochemical control of aggression and submissiveness,” Zh. Vyssh. Nerv. Deyat.,41, No. 5, 459–466 (1991).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. N. N. Kudryavtseva, I. V. Bakshtanovskaya, and D. F. Avgustinovich, “The effects of repeated experience aggression in daily confrontations on individual and social behavior of male mice,”Zh. Vyssh. Nerv. Deyat.,47, No. 1, 86–97 (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  15. N. N. Kudryavtseva, L. A. Koryakina, D. G. Sakharov, and L. E. Serova, “The effects of prolonged experience of aggression and submissiveness on adrenocortical and androgen functions of male inbred mice,”Ros. Fiziol. Zh. im. I. M. Sechenova,80, No. 11, 26–31 (1994).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. N. N. Kudryavtseva, T. V. Lipina, G. B. Vishinivetskaya, and D. F. Avgustinovich, “The involvement of 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptors in forming different levels of anxiety in male mice exposed to experience of social victory and defeat,”Zh. Vyssh. Nerv. Deyat.,46, No. 2, 370–377 (1996).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. N. N. Kudryavtseva and N. K. Popova, “Comparative characterization of parameters of aggressive reactions in male mice of two genotypes,”Zh. Vyssh. Nerv. Deyat.,38, 889–895 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  18. N. N. Kudryavtseva and A. P. Sitnikov, “The effects of emotionality, investigative activity, and pain sensitivity on the manifestation of agonistic behavior in mice,”Zh. Vyssh. Nerv. Deyat.,36, No. 4, 686–691 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  19. A. V. Kulikov and N. K. Popova, “Studies of the genetic control of spontaneous aggression in mice,”Genetika,15, 526–531 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  20. T. V. Lipina, D. F. Avgustinovich, L. A. Koryakina, O. V. Alekseenko, and N. N. Kudryavtseva, “Differences in the effects of naltrexone on communicative and aggressive behavior in individuals with different experiences of social victory,”Klin. Éksp. Farmakol.,61, No. 3, 13–18 (1998).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. O. Manning,Animal Behavior [Russian translation], Mir, Moscow (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  22. S. N. Novikov,Pheromones and Mammalian Reproduction [in Russian], Nauka, Leningrad (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  23. N. A. Popova, S. I. Il'nitskaya, L. A. Kolesnikova, V. I. Kaledin, and N. N. Kudryavtseva, “The effects of chronic social conflicts on some parameters of non-specific resistance in mice,”Ros. Fiziol. Zh. im. I. M. Sechenova,82, No. 12, 14–19 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  24. P. V. Simonov,The Emotional Brain [in Russian], Nauka, Moscow (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  25. T. G. Amstislavskaya and N. N. Kudryavtseva, “Effect of repeated stress of victories and defeats in daily agonistic confrontations on brain tryptophan hydroxylase activity,”FEBS Lett.,406, 106–108 (1997).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. D. F. Avgustinovich, O. V. Gorbach, and N. N. Kudryavtseva, “Comparative analysis of anxiety-like behavior in partition and plus-maze tests after agonistic interaction in mice,”Physiol. Behav.,61, 37–43 (1997).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. E. B. Barrat, “Impulsiveness and aggression,” in:Proceedings of Risk Special Studies Meeting, McArthur Foundation Program of Research on Mental Health and Behavior, Pittsburgh, September 27–28, 1990.

  28. N. J. Bean, “Modulation of agonistic behavior by the dual olfactory system in male mice,”Physiol. Behav.,29, 433–437 (1982).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. D. C. Blanchard and R. J. Blanchard, “Affect and aggression: an animal model applied to human behavior,” in:Advances on the Study of Aggression, Academic Press (1984), Vol. 1, 1–61.

  30. R. Blumeston, G. Ratzoni, A. Weizman, M. Israeli, N. Greuner, A. Apter, and A. Beigon, “Reduction in serotonin 5-HT binding on platets of delinquent adolescents,”Psychopharmacology,118, 354–356 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. P. F. Brain and S. Parmigiani, “Variation in aggressiveness in house mouse populations,”Biol. J. Linn. Soc.,41, 257–269 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  32. G. L. Brown, M. H. Ebert, P. F. Goyer, D. C. Jimerson, W. J. Klein, W. E. Bunney, and F. K. Goodwin, “Aggression, suicide, and serotonin. Relationships to CSF metabolites,”Am. J. Psychiatr.,139, 741–746 (1982).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. G. L. Brown, F. K. Goodwin, J. C. Ballenger, P. F. Goyer, and L. F. Major, “Aggression in humans correlates with cerebrospinal fluid amine metabolites,”Psych. Res.,1, 131–139 (1979).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. C. S. Brown, T. A. Kent, S. G. Bryant, R. M. Gevedon, J. L. Campbell, A. R. Felthous, E. S. Barratt, and R. M. Rose, “Blood platelet uptake of serotonin in epidodic aggression,”Psych. Res.,27, 5–12 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. S.-L. Brown, R. L. Steinberg, and H. M. van Praag, “The pathogenesis of depression. Reconsideration of neurotransmitter data,” inHandbook of Depression and Anxiety, Marcel Dekker Inc., New York (1994), pp. 317–347.

    Google Scholar 

  36. E. F. Coccaro, “Impulsive aggression and central serotonergic system function in humans: an example of a dementional brain behavior relationship,”Intern. Clin. Psychopharmacol.,7, 3–12 (1992).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. E. F. Coccaro, R. J. Kavoussi, Y. I. Sheline, J. D. Lish, and J. G. Csernansky, “Impulsive aggression in personality disorder correlates with tritiated paroxetine binding in the platelet,”Arch. Gen. Psych.,53, 531–536 (1996).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. G. Curzon, “Serotonergic mechanisms of depression,”Clin. Neuropharmacol.,11, S11-S20 (1988).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. P. L. Delgado, L. H. Price, H. L. Miller, R. M. Salomon, G. K. Aghajanian, G. R. Heninger, and D. S. Charney, “Serotonin and the neurobiology of depression. Effects of tryptophan depletion in drug-free repressed patients,”Arch. Gen. Psychiatr.,51, 865–874 (1994).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. L. V. Devoino, E. L. Alperina, N. N. Kudryavtseva, and N. K. Popova, “Immune responses in male mice with aggressive and submissive behavior patterns. Strain differences,”Brain Behav. Immun.,7, 91–96 (1993).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. S. E. Jones and P. F. Brain, “Performance of inbred and outbred laboratory mice in putative tests of aggression,”Behav. Genetics,17, 87–96 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. G. Flugge, “Dynamics of central nervous 5-HT1A receptors under psychosocial stress,”J. Neurosci.,15, No. 11, 7132–7140 (1995).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. E. Fuchs and G. Flugge, “Modulation of binding sites for corticotropin-releasing hormone by chronic psychosocial stress,”Psychoneuroendocrinology,20, No. 1, 33–51 (1995).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. E. Fuchs, M. Kramer, B. Hermes, P. Netter, and C. Hiemke, “Psychosocial stress in tree shrews: clomipramine counteracts behavioral and endocrine changes,”Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav.,54, 1 (1996).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. L. K. George, D. G. Blazer, D. S. Hughes, and N. Fowler, “Social support and the outcome of major depression,”Brit. J. Psych.,154, 478–485 (1989).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. T. A. Kent, C. S. Brown, E. S. Barratt, A. R. Felthous, and R. M. Rose, “Blood platelets uptake of serotonin in episodic aggression. Correlation with red blood cell proton T1 and impulsivity,”Psychopharmacol. Bull.,24, 454–457 (1988).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. W. Kostowski, A. Plaznik, and T. Archer, “Possible implications of 5-HT function for the etiology and treatment of depression,”New Trends in Exp. Clin. Psych.,5, No. 2, 91–116, (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  48. M. Krsiak, “Timid singly-housed mice. Their value in prediction of psychotropic activity of drugs,”Brit. J. Pharmacol.,55, 141–150 (1975).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. N. N. Kudryavtseva, “The sensory contact model for the study of aggressive and submissive behaviors in male mice,”Aggress. Behav.,17, No. 5, 285–291 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  50. N. N. Kudryavtseva, “Experience of defeat decreases the behavioral reactivity to conspecifics in the partition test,”Behav. Proc.,32, No. 2, 297–304 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. N. N. Kudryavtseva, “Neurophysiological consequences of repeated experience of aggression in daily intermale confrontations (model, experiments, perspectives): A review”, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Sciences (1997).

  52. N. N. Kudryavtseva and D. F. Avgustinovich, “Behavioral and physiological markers of experimental depression induced by social conflicts (DISC),”Aggress. Behav.,24, 271–286 (1998).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. N. N. Kudryavtseva and I. V. Bakhstanovskaya, “Experience of defeat increases the susceptibility to catatonic-like state in mice,”Behav. Proces.,20, 139–149 (1989).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. N. N. Kudryavtseva, I. V. Bakhshtanovskaya, D. F. Avgustinovich, L. A. Koryakina, L. A. Kolesnikova, T. G. Amstislavskaya, O. V. Gorbach, T. V. Lipina, S. N. Schigantsov, I. A. Madorskaya, and T. P. Denisova, “Social defeats, depression and anxiety. An experimental model. A review,” Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Sciences (1995).

  55. N. N. Kudryavtseva, I. V. Bakhshtanovskaya, and L. A. Koryakina, “Social model of depression in mice of C57BL/6J strain,”Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav.,38, No. 2, 215–300 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. N. N. Kudryavtseva, I. A. Madorskaya, and I. V. Bakhshtanovskaya, “Social success and voluntary ethanol consumption in mice of C57BL/6J and CBA/Lac strains,”Physiol. Behav.,50, 143–146 (1991).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. A. V. Kulikov, E. Y. Kozlachkova, N. N. Kudryavtseva, and N. K. Popova, “Correlation between tryptophan hydroxylase activity in the brain and predisposition to pinch-induced catalepsy in mice,”Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav.,50, No. 3, 431–435 (1995).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. I. P. Lapin and G. F. Oxenkrug, “Intensification of the central serotonergic processes as a possible determinant of the thymoleptic effects,”Lancet,1, 132–136 (1969).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. L. Lidberg, M. Asberg and U. B. Sundqvist-Stenman, “5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels in attempted suicides who have killed their children,”Lancet,ii, 928 (1984).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. M. Linnoila, M. Virkkunen, M. Scheinin, A. Nuutila, R. Rimon, and F. K. Goodwin, “Low cerebrospinal fluid pulsive from nonimpulsive violent behavior,”Life Sci.,33, 2609–2614 (1983).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. R. G. Lister, “The use of a plus-maze to measure anxiety in the mouse,”Psychopharmacology,92, No. 1, 180–185 (1987).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. J. J. Lopez-Ibor, J. Saiz-Ruiz, and J. C. Perez de los Cobos, “Biological correlations of suicide and aggressivity in major depression (with melancholia): 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid cortisol in cerebral spinal fluid, dexamethasone suppresion test and therapeutic response to 5-hydroxytryptophan,”Neuropsychology,14, 67–74 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  63. W. T. McKinney and W. E. Bunney, “Animal model of depression. A review of evidences and implications for research,”Arch. Gen. Psych.,21, 240–248 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  64. F. G. Moeller, D. M. Dougherty, A. C. Swann, D. Collins, C. M. Davis, and D. R. Cherek, “Tryptophan depletion and aggressive responding in healthy males,”Psychopharmacology,126, 97–103 (1995).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. I. Modai, A. Apter, M. Meltzer, S. Tyano, A. Walevski, and Z. Jershalmy, “Serotonin uptake by platelets of suicidal and aggressive adolescent psychiatric inpatients,”Neuropsychobiology,21, 9–13 (1989).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. K. E. Moyer,Violence and Aggression, Paragon House, New York (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  67. H. Nagayama, J. Akiyoshi, and M. Tobo, “Action of chronically administered antidepressants on the serotonergic postsynapse in a model of depression,”Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav.,25, No. 4, 805–812 (1986).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. M. J. Owens and C. B. Nemeroff, “Role of serotonin in the pathophysiology of depression. Focus on the serotonin transporter,”Clin. Chem.,40, No. 2, 28–295 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

  69. S. Parmigiani, V. Brunoni, and A. Pasquali, “Behavioral influences of dominant, isolated and subordinated male mice on female social-sexual preference,”Bull Zool,49, 31–35 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  70. J. E. Phifer and S. A. Murrell, “Etiologic factors in the onset of depressive symptoms in older adults,”J. Abn. Psychol.,95, No. 3, 282–291 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. R. D. Porsolt and M. Le Pichon, “Depression: a new animal model sensitive to antidepressant treatments,”Nature,266, No. 5604, 730–732 (1977).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. V. P. Poshivalov, “Some characteristics of the aggressive behavior of mice after prolonged isolation. Intraspecific and interspecific aspects,”Aggress. Behav.,7, 195–204 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  73. R. J. Rodgers and J. C. Cole, “The elevated plus-maze: Pharmacology, methodology and ethology,” in:Ethology and Psychopharmacology, S. J. Cooper and C. A. Hendrie (Eds.), Wiley, Chichester (1994), pp. 9–44.

    Google Scholar 

  74. H. M. van Praag, “Studies in the mechanism of action of serotonin precursor in depression,”Psychopharm. Bull.,20, 599–602 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  75. H. P. von Hahn, C. G. Honegger, and A. Pletscher, “Similar kinetic characteristics of 5-hydroxytryptamine binding in blood platelets and brain membranes of rats,”Neurosci. Lett.,30, 319–322 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Lavrent'ev Prospekt, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia

    N. N. Kudryavtseva

Authors
  1. N. N. Kudryavtseva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Translated from Rossiiskii Fiziologischeskii Zhurnal imeni I. M. Sechenova, Vol. 85, No. 1, pp. 67–83, January, 1990.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kudryavtseva, N.N. Agonistic behavior: A model, experimental studies, and perspectives. Neurosci Behav Physiol 30, 293–305 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02471782

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02471782

Key Words

Search

Navigation