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Alcohol, GABAA-Benzodiazepine Receptor Complex, and Aggression

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Recent Developments in Alcoholism

Part of the book series: Recent Development in Alcoholism ((RDIA,volume 13))

Abstract

Neurobiological investigations have become productive since experimental protocols were developed that engender large increases in aggressive behavior after acute alcohol challenges in individual experimental animals. Recent developments extended the heightened aggressive behavior to rats that self-administered alcohol shortly before the social confrontation. Quantitative ethological analysis revealed that alcohol prolongs “bursts” of aggressive acts and displays and disrupts communication between the aggressive animal and the opponent who defends, submits, or flees. Pharmacological modulation of the GABA, receptor with benzodiazepine agonists and neuroactive steroids results in dose-dependent biphasic changes in aggressive behavior that mimic the dose-effect function of alcohol; benzodiazepines potentiate the aggression-heightening effects of alcohol as well as the behaviorally suppressive effects; and antagonists at benzodiazepine receptors prevented the aggression-heightening effects o f alcohol. The maturational and experiential origins for potentially distinctive GABA, receptor characteristics in individuals who exhibit heightened aggressive behavior await identification.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Psychology, Psychiatry, and Pharmacology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, 02155

    Klaus A. Miczek

  2. Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, 02155

    Joseph F. DeBold, Annemoon M. M. van Erp & Walter Tornatzky

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  1. Klaus A. Miczek
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  2. Joseph F. DeBold
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  3. Annemoon M. M. van Erp
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  4. Walter Tornatzky
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  1. New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York

    Marc Galanter

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Miczek, K.A., DeBold, J.F., van Erp, A.M.M., Tornatzky, W. (2002). Alcohol, GABAA-Benzodiazepine Receptor Complex, and Aggression. In: Galanter, M., et al. Recent Developments in Alcoholism. Recent Development in Alcoholism, vol 13. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47141-8_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47141-8_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

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