Behavioural and neuropharmacological aspects of maternal aggression in rodents

Functional aspects of maternal aggression in mammals

“…Maternal aggression has been studied extensively in laboratory rodents, but perhaps as a result of the experimenters' theoretical background, studies have emphasized causal aspects of the behavior (e.g., its neuroendocrine determinants) rather than its functions. Likewise, reviews of the topic only touch on the functional aspects of maternal aggression (Svare 198 1, 1989(Svare 198 1, , 1990; Mos et al 1990; one notable exception is Ostermeyer…”

Functional aspects of maternal aggression in mammals

“…Maternal aggression has been studied extensively in laboratory rodents, but perhaps as a result of the experimenters' theoretical background, studies have emphasized causal aspects of the behavior (e.g., its neuroendocrine determinants) rather than its functions. Likewise, reviews of the topic only touch on the functional aspects of maternal aggression (Svare 198 1, 1989(Svare 198 1, , 1990; Mos et al 1990; one notable exception is Ostermeyer…”

Increased aggression after ethanol self-administration in male resident rats

“…There are some indications that long-term alcohol consumption changes the attack pattern (Peterson and Pohorecky 1989). In this study, in some animals a change from biting in the neck region to biting at the face of the intruder was observed, a pattern that is speciÞc for maternal aggression (Mos et al 1990). Whether this is a genuine and long-lasting change in attack behavior due to alcohol requires further study.…”

Prepartal chronic stress increases anxiety and decreases aggression in lactating female mice.

“…It must be taken into account, however, that chronic stress may simultaneously affect different brain neurotransmitter systems that are involved in maternal aggression, anxiety, or both. The neurotransmitter 5-HT plays an important role in maternal aggression in that 5-HT receptor agonists have been reported to decrease such behavior (for a review see Mos, Olivier, & van Oorschot, 1990). Moreover, growing evidence points to a role of 5-HT in the control of anxiety and indicates, in general, that a reduction in 5-HT neurotransmission tends to reduce anxiety, whereas stimulation of the 5-HT system usually has anxiogenic effects (Chopin & Briley, 1987).…”

Functional aspects of maternal aggression in mammals

“…Maternal aggression has been studied extensively in laboratory rodents, but perhaps as a result of the experimenters' theoretical background, studies have emphasized causal aspects of the behavior (e.g., its neuroendocrine determinants) rather than its functions. Likewise, reviews of the topic only touch on the functional aspects of maternal aggression (Svare 198 1, 1989(Svare 198 1, , 1990; Mos et al 1990; one notable exception is Ostermeyer…”

Increased aggression after ethanol self-administration in male resident rats

“…There are some indications that long-term alcohol consumption changes the attack pattern (Peterson and Pohorecky 1989). In this study, in some animals a change from biting in the neck region to biting at the face of the intruder was observed, a pattern that is speciÞc for maternal aggression (Mos et al 1990). Whether this is a genuine and long-lasting change in attack behavior due to alcohol requires further study.…”

Prepartal chronic stress increases anxiety and decreases aggression in lactating female mice.

“…It must be taken into account, however, that chronic stress may simultaneously affect different brain neurotransmitter systems that are involved in maternal aggression, anxiety, or both. The neurotransmitter 5-HT plays an important role in maternal aggression in that 5-HT receptor agonists have been reported to decrease such behavior (for a review see Mos, Olivier, & van Oorschot, 1990). Moreover, growing evidence points to a role of 5-HT in the control of anxiety and indicates, in general, that a reduction in 5-HT neurotransmission tends to reduce anxiety, whereas stimulation of the 5-HT system usually has anxiogenic effects (Chopin & Briley, 1987).…”

Functional aspects of maternal aggression in mammals

“…Maternal aggression has been studied extensively in laboratory rodents, but perhaps as a result of the experimenters' theoretical background, studies have emphasized causal aspects of the behavior (e.g., its neuroendocrine determinants) rather than its functions. Likewise, reviews of the topic only touch on the functional aspects of maternal aggression (Svare 198 1, 1989(Svare 198 1, , 1990; Mos et al 1990; one notable exception is Ostermeyer…”

Increased aggression after ethanol self-administration in male resident rats

“…There are some indications that long-term alcohol consumption changes the attack pattern (Peterson and Pohorecky 1989). In this study, in some animals a change from biting in the neck region to biting at the face of the intruder was observed, a pattern that is speciÞc for maternal aggression (Mos et al 1990). Whether this is a genuine and long-lasting change in attack behavior due to alcohol requires further study.…”

Prepartal chronic stress increases anxiety and decreases aggression in lactating female mice.

“…It must be taken into account, however, that chronic stress may simultaneously affect different brain neurotransmitter systems that are involved in maternal aggression, anxiety, or both. The neurotransmitter 5-HT plays an important role in maternal aggression in that 5-HT receptor agonists have been reported to decrease such behavior (for a review see Mos, Olivier, & van Oorschot, 1990). Moreover, growing evidence points to a role of 5-HT in the control of anxiety and indicates, in general, that a reduction in 5-HT neurotransmission tends to reduce anxiety, whereas stimulation of the 5-HT system usually has anxiogenic effects (Chopin & Briley, 1987).…”