Abstract
The present study investigated the acute and chronic effects of psychotropic drugs on maternal aggression in mice. All female mice had been singly housed since the end of the 4-day mating period. Behavioral testing for acute drug effects was carried out on postpartum days 5 and 7. Chronic drug treatment was started immediately after removal of the partner male, and was terminated on the 3rd postpartum day; behavioral testing was done on the 5th postpartum day. Acute administration of chlordiazepoxide (CDP; 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg, IP) showed a biphasic effect on maternal aggression; 10 mg/kg CDP significantly increased the frequency of bites, while 15 mg/kg CDP significantly decreased it. Imipramine (IMP; 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg, IP) decreased the frequency of bites in a dose-dependent manner. Haloperidol (HAL; 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg, IP) also decreased the frequency of bites dose dependently, but 0.2 and 0.4 mg/kg HAL decreased both the frequency and duration of locomotion. Chronic treatment with either CDP (5 and 10 mg/kg, IP) or HAL (0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg, IP) failed to alter the frequency of bites, while IMP (5 and 10 mg/kg, IP) decreased the frequency of bites. This evidence indicates that the antidepressant imipramine has a specific action in alleviating postpartum female aggression, and suggests that female aggression in mice is a useful tool for differentiating the actions of psychtropic drugs.
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Yoshimura, H., Ogawa, N. Acute and chronic effects of psychotropic drugs on maternal aggression in mice. Psychopharmacology 97, 339–342 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00439447
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00439447