LSD-induced effects in elephants: Comparisons with musth behavior

Abstract

Musth is a condition observed in male Asiatic elephants and is characterized by aggression and temporal gland secretions. A classic and controversial 1962 study attempted to induce a musth syndrome in an elephant via treatment with LSD. Two elephants in the present study survived dosages of LSD (.003-.10 mglkg) and exhibited changes in the frequency and/or duration of several behaviors as scored according to a quantitative observational system. LSD increased aggression and inappropriate behaviors such as ataxia. Results are discussed in terms of musth and drug-induced perceptual-motor dysfunction.Musth is a condition commonly observed in male Asiatic elephants and is characterized by aggressiveness and discharging of the temporal glands. Studies on captive domesticated Asiatic elephants (Elephas maximus) have demonstrated an initial stage wherein the temporal gland (a modified apocrine sweat gland) becomes enlarged and the animal displays increased irritability and decreased responsiveness to verbal commands. The second stage consists of temporal gland secretions (through a duct opening between the eye and ear), overt aggression, dribbling of urine, and elevated plasma testosterone levels (J ainudeen, Katongole, & Short , 1972;Jainudeen, McKay, & Eisenberg, 1972). The phenomenon clearly is related to chemical communication used in territorial marking as well as in sexual activity. In this sense, musth appears to be comparable to rutting behavior in other ungulates (Eisenberg, McKay, & Jainudeen, 1971) and may have adaptive significance for animals in the wild (Scheurmann & Jainudeen , 1972). Whereas musth has been observed only in Asiatic elephants, and only rarely in females (Bor, 1928), both male and female African elephants (Loxodonta a[ricana) exhibit temporal gland secretions concomitant with aggression. Indeed, when African elephants are disturbed or stressed, the glands show copious secretions of oleic acid and volatile oils, which may function both as alarm signals and scents for individual recognition (Adams, Garcia, & Foote , 1978;Buss, Rasmussen, & Smuts, 1976;Cmelik & Ley, 1978;Jainudeen, McKay, & Eisenberg, 1972).The behavior accompanying musth and temporal gland secretions may last from 2 weeks to 4 months and This research was supported in part by USPHS Grant MH-23880. The author thanks H. Johnson, S. Craig, M. Tennet, D. Dooley, P. Quinn, and 1. Kobrin for cooperation and assistance at Lion Country Safari. The behavioral profile was developed by M. Brodie. The author is affiliated with the Department

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