Abstract
The species-specific repertoire of attack, threat, defense, and submission was produced in pairs of male laboratory rats and measured after intraperitoneal injection of a drug or its vehicle to one of the rats. Attack behavior by dominant rats toward nondrugged opponents was increased by a low dose of alcohol (0.5 g/kg) or of chlordiazepoxide (5 mg/kg), but suppressed by Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In experienced subordinate rats, the highest alcohol dose (1.5 g/kg) impaired the defensive upright posture whereas THC (2, 4 mg/kg) prolonged immobile crouch and submissivesupine reactions and resulted in more wounds. Naive rats administered alcohol assumed the submissivesupine posture more readily and for a longer duration, but sustained more biting attacks. Chlordiazepoxide and THC, when administered to naive rats, prolonged the immobile crouch reaction, and THC also impaired the defensive upright posture. We conclude that alcohol and chlordiazepoxide both enhance attack behavior in dominant rats, whereas THC has specific anti-aggressive effects and profoundly alters the submissive-defensive reactions.
The research was supported by U. S. P. H. S. research grants DA-00722 and DA-01502 (to K. A. M.) and U. S. P. H. S. research grant MH-13595 and Research Scientist Development Award K2-MH-5921 (to H. B.).
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Miczek, K.A., Barry, H. (1977). Comparison of the Effects of Alcohol, Chlordiazepoxide, and Δ9 Tetrahydrocannabinol on Intraspecies Aggression in Rats. In: Gross, M.M. (eds) Alcohol Intoxication and Withdrawal—IIIb. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 85B. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9038-5_17
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