TY - JOUR PY - 1989// TI - Acute and chronic effects of psychotropic drugs on maternal aggression in mice JO - Psychopharmacology A1 - Yoshimura, H. A1 - Ogawa, N. SP - 339 EP - 342 VL - 97 IS - 3 N2 - 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. 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 psychotropic drugs.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0033-3158 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -