Para-chlorophenylalanine, serotonin and killing behavior☆

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Abstract

Both p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) and PCPA methyl ester were found to reliably induce mouse-killing in non-killer rats only when unusually large doses were used (three successive daily injections of 300 mg/kg) and brain serotonin (5-HT) concentration was drastically reduced (about 90 percent). Neither three doses of 100 mg/kg of PCPA nor p-chloroamphetamine (3 × 3.5 mg/kg) caused similar effects in spite of the fact that these compounds depleted brain 5-HT by 85 percent and 60 percent, respectively. PCPA-induced mouse killing was reversed by 5-HTP (100 mg/kg) only when this serotonin precursor completely restored levels of 5-HT. The topography of PCPA-induced killing did not resemble normal interspecies aggression and was also directed toward rat pups. These findings suggest that 5-HT depletion might facilitate nonspecific killing reactions, but is not a sufficient condition to induce the species-specific predatory behavior in rats.

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    • Cited by (0)

    ☆

    Supported by PHS Research Grant DA-722 (to K.A.M.) and by PHS Research Grant MH 13 186 (to J.B.A.).

    2

    Now at Department of Psychology, Carnegie-Mellon University, Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

    3

    Noew at the Drug Research Unit, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Mass.

    4

    Now at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C.

    5

    Now at the University of South Carolina Medical School, Charleston, S.C.

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    Copyright © 1975 Published by Elsevier Inc.