Effects of diazepam related to social hierarchy in rhesus monkeys
| Autor: | J.M. Rodero, J.M. Delgado-García, J.M.R. Delgado, C. Grau |
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| Rok vydání: | 1976 |
| Předmět: |
Pharmacology
Diminution Male Diazepam Physiology Feeding Behavior Haplorhini Motor Activity Macaca mulatta Social situation Developmental psychology Aggression Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience Dominance (ethology) Oral administration medicine Social hierarchy Animals Humans Female Psychology Social Behavior medicine.drug |
| Zdroj: | Neuropharmacology. 15(7) |
| ISSN: | 0028-3908 |
| Popis: | Individual and social variability are factors which should be taken into consideration in the evaluation of psychoactive drugs. As a model, we investigated the effects of oral administration of diazepam in doses of 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg in rhesus monkeys, testing each animal under each dose in the same environment. The only variable was the social situation, as the animals were tested while alone and when paired with a dominant or submissive partner. Mobility was recorded by telemetry. Behaviour was recorded every 5 sec for eight 15 min sessions. Results were as follows. Mobility was similar in single and paired animals, and also in dominant and submissive monkeys. Mobility was therefore independent of the social situation lor controls. Taking of pellets delivered automatically every 30 sec decreased significantly in the following order: alone, dominant, submissive. Some behavioural categories were modified significantly depending on the social situation. Administration of 0.1–0.3 mg/kg diazepam did not produce changes in single or dominant animals, but had significant effects on the behavioural profiles of submissive monkeys. Administration of 3.0–10.0 mg/kg diazepam produced diminution of body mobility in the three situations, being more prominent in the submissive monkeys. Pellet intake also diminished. In the dominant animals, no changes appeared in locomotion, drinking, picking, or grooming. Administration of 01 mg/kg diazepam decreased aggressive acts by 50%. The natural order of dominance was not reversed even after the administration of the highest doses. Administration of diazepam to the submissive animal decreased aggressive behaviour of the dominant animal, perhaps reflecting the diminished challenge to its authority. It is concluded that submissive animals show an extreme sensitivity to diazepam, and that individual hierarchy is an important element in the behavioural effects of diazepam. Our experimental procedure should be useful for future testing of psychopharmacological agents, especially those which could improve the social adaptability of mental patients. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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