TY - JOUR
T1 - Differential responsiveness to fluoxetine during puberty
AU - Taravosh-Lahn, Kereshmeh
AU - Bastida, Christel
AU - Delville, Yvon
PY - 2006/10
Y1 - 2006/10
N2 - In male golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), attack frequency decreases during puberty. As serotonin inhibits offensive responses in adult hamsters, it is hypothesized that the serotonin system becomes upregulated in the hypothalamus during puberty. This hypothesis was tested through acute treatment with fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, as well as through analysis of serotonin innervation in specific brain areas. In adults, fluoxetine treatment inhibited aggressive behavior. In juveniles, high doses of fluoxetine only reduced offensive responses (i.e., frequency and repetition of attacks), whereas low doses enhanced them. Juveniles also showed a dose-specific maturation of attack targets. In addition, the density of serotonin innervation of the hypothalamus was 20% higher in adult hamsters compared with juveniles. On the basis of these data, it is proposed that the developing serotonergic system shapes the development of offensive behaviors in male golden hamsters.
AB - In male golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), attack frequency decreases during puberty. As serotonin inhibits offensive responses in adult hamsters, it is hypothesized that the serotonin system becomes upregulated in the hypothalamus during puberty. This hypothesis was tested through acute treatment with fluoxetine, a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, as well as through analysis of serotonin innervation in specific brain areas. In adults, fluoxetine treatment inhibited aggressive behavior. In juveniles, high doses of fluoxetine only reduced offensive responses (i.e., frequency and repetition of attacks), whereas low doses enhanced them. Juveniles also showed a dose-specific maturation of attack targets. In addition, the density of serotonin innervation of the hypothalamus was 20% higher in adult hamsters compared with juveniles. On the basis of these data, it is proposed that the developing serotonergic system shapes the development of offensive behaviors in male golden hamsters.
KW - Adolescence
KW - Aggression
KW - Male golden hamsters
KW - Play fighting
KW - SSRI
KW - Serotonin
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33750041960&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33750041960&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/0735-7044.120.5.1084
DO - 10.1037/0735-7044.120.5.1084
M3 - Article
C2 - 17014259
AN - SCOPUS:33750041960
SN - 0735-7044
VL - 120
SP - 1084
EP - 1092
JO - Behavioral Neuroscience
JF - Behavioral Neuroscience
IS - 5
ER -