Inhibitory Effect of Buspirone and Diazepam, but not of 8-OH-DPAT, on Maternal Behavior and Aggression

Ferreira, Annabel; Picazo, Ofir Picazo; Uriarte, Natalia; Pereira, Mariana; Fernández‐Guasti, Alonso

doi:10.1016/s0091-3057(00)00211-2

Cited by 45 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Previous studies showed that BDZ agonists (which increase the binding affinity of GABA onto GABA A receptors) alter maternal aggression in rats (Ferreira et al, 2000;Mos and Olivier, 1989;Olivier et al, 1985) and mice (Palanza et al, 1996;Ogawa, 1989, 1991) with low doses increasing and higher doses inhibiting aggression. Where and how BDZs act centrally to modify maternal defense, though, is not known.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In some studies, systemic injections of BDZ agonists have been shown to impair pup retrieval and nest building, but insignificantly alter other maternal traits in rats (D'Amato et al, 1997;Ferreira et al, 2000). Furthermore, site-directed injections into the CNS of muscimol (a GABA A receptor agonist) reduced active maternal traits like pup retrieval (Arrati et al, 2006), nest building (Arrati et al, 2006;Ferreira et al, 2000;Numan et al, 2005), and high arched-back nursing (Arrati et al, 2006;Numan et al, 2005;Salzberg et al, 2002), as well as passive maternal behaviors, including low arched-back nursing, and licking and grooming (Arrati et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, site-directed injections into the CNS of muscimol (a GABA A receptor agonist) reduced active maternal traits like pup retrieval (Arrati et al, 2006), nest building (Arrati et al, 2006;Ferreira et al, 2000;Numan et al, 2005), and high arched-back nursing (Arrati et al, 2006;Numan et al, 2005;Salzberg et al, 2002), as well as passive maternal behaviors, including low arched-back nursing, and licking and grooming (Arrati et al, 2006). Conversely, postpartum ewes injected with a BDZ agonist were more willing to accept alien offspring and allowed suckling compared to those injected with saline (Ferreira et al, 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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GABA enhancement of maternal defense in mice: Possible neural correlates

Lee

Gammie

2007

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

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Previous studies have shown that low doses of GABA A receptor agonists facilitate maternal defense of offspring (maternal aggression), without significantly affecting other maternal behaviors. In addition, it has been demonstrated that endogenous changes in GABAergic neurotransmission occur in association with lactation. This study investigated the effects of GABA A receptor agonist, chlordiazepoxide (CDP), a benzodiazepine (BDZ), on maternal behaviors including aggression, and identified brain regions with altered activity in association with treatment. Another aim of the study was to determine whether CDP injections could prevent decreases in maternal aggression that occur with pup separation. Intraperitoneal injections of 1mg/kg of CDP significantly increased maternal defense without affecting other maternal behaviors, although a trend towards elevated nursing was noted. CDP significantly reduced c-Fos in lateral septum (LS) and caudal periaqueductal gray (cPAG) in behaviorally-experienced mice relative to vehicle-injected controls. In behaviorally-naïve subjects, CDP also decreased c-Fos in LS, but in cPAG this decrease was just above significance (p = 0.051). CDP was not sufficient to "rescue" maternal aggression when pup stimulus was removed. Overall, these studies provide further insights into the role for GABA in maternal behaviors, including aggression, and how and where BDZs may act to modulate behavior.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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GABA enhancement of maternal defense in mice: Possible neural correlates

Lee

Gammie

2007

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

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“…Treatment with a 5-HT 1 receptor agonist also diminished maternal aggression in mice (Parmigiani et al, 1989;Racine and Flannelly, 1986). Similarly, treatment with a 5-HT reuptake inhibitor, fluvoxamine, or with 5-HT 1 or 5-HT 2 receptor agonists (e.g., 8-OH-DPAT, buspirone, ipsapirone, fluprazine, RU24969, eltoprazine, DOI) reduced maternal aggression in rats (Olivier et al, 1985(Olivier et al, , 1986(Olivier et al, , 1995Ferreira et al, 2000). Centrally administered DOI and 8-OH-DPAT also reduce maternal aggression in rats Lucion, 1994, 1997).…”

Section: -Ht and Female Aggressionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Some of the reduced maternal aggression observed after drug treatment may reflect the general malaise and reduction in locomotor behavior observed after treatment with 5-HT receptor agonists (Olivier et al, 1995). Notably, some studies have found controversial results relating the 5-HT system, 5-HT receptors, and brain regions in rodent maternal aggression (Ieni and Thurmond, 1985;Lucion, 1994, 1997;Ferreira et al, 2000).…”

Section: -Ht and Female Aggressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interaction of nitric oxide and serotonin in aggressive behavior

Chiavegatto

Nelson

2003

Hormones and Behavior

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Nitric oxide (NO) modulates many behavioral and neuroendocrine responses. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of the synthetic enzyme that produces NO in neurons evokes elevated and sustained aggression in male mice. Recently, the excessive aggressive and impulsive traits of neuronal NO synthase knockout (nNOS Ϫ/Ϫ ) mice were shown to be caused by reductions in serotonin (5-HT) turnover and deficient 5-HT 1A and 5-HT 1B receptor function in brain regions regulating emotion. The consistently high levels of aggression observed in nNOS Ϫ/Ϫ mice could be reversed by 5-HT precursors and by treatment with specific 5-HT 1A and 5-HT 1B receptor agonists. The expression of the aggressive phenotype of nNOS Ϫ/Ϫ knockout mice requires isolated housing prior to testing. The effects of social factors such as housing condition and maternal care can affect 5-HT and aggression, but the interaction among extrinsic factors, 5-HT, NO, and aggression remains unspecified. Taken together, NO appears to play an important role in normal brain 5-HT function and may have significant implications for the treatment of psychiatric disorders characterized by aggressive and impulsive behaviors.

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Alterations to Embryonic Serotonin Change Aggression and Fearfulness

Dennis

Fahey

Cheng

2013

Aggressive Behavior

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Prenatal stress can alter the serotonin (5-HT) system in the developing and adult brain and lead to mood and behavioral disorders in children and adults. The chicken provides a unique animal model to study the effects of embryonic stressors on childhood and adolescent behavior. Manipulations to the egg can be made in the absence of confounding maternal effects from treatment. Eggs were injected with 50 μL of excess 5-HT (10 μg/egg), 8-OH-DPAT (a 5-HT1A receptor agonist; 16 μg/egg), or saline on day 0 prior to the 21 days incubation. Injections were performed at 0.5 cm below the shell. Behavior was analyzed at 9 weeks of age and again at the onset of sexual maturity (18 weeks). Hens treated with excess embryonic 5-HT exhibited significantly less aggressive behaviors at 9 weeks of age compared to both 5-HT1A agonist treated and saline hens (P < 0.05), and at 18 weeks of age compared to saline control birds only (P < 0.05). Excess embryonic 5-HT also increased fearfulness response (P < 0.05) as tested by duration of tonic immobility. Increased degree of fluctuating asymmetry at 18 weeks in 5-HT-treated birds (P < 0.05) suggests that excess 5-HT in early embryonic stages may create a developmental instability, causing phenotypic variations. These results showed that modification of the serotonergic system during early embryonic development alters its functions in mediating aggressive and fearful or anxious behaviors. Prenatal modification of the serotonergic system has long lived implications on both physiology and behavior, especially aggressive and fearful behaviors.

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Inhibitory Effect of Buspirone and Diazepam, but not of 8-OH-DPAT, on Maternal Behavior and Aggression

Cited by 45 publications

References 31 publications

GABA enhancement of maternal defense in mice: Possible neural correlates

GABA enhancement of maternal defense in mice: Possible neural correlates

Interaction of nitric oxide and serotonin in aggressive behavior

Alterations to Embryonic Serotonin Change Aggression and Fearfulness

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