Corticotropin releasing factor influences aggression and monoamines: Modulation of attacks and retreats

doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.10.014

Neuroscience

Volume 158, Issue 2, 23 January 2009, Pages 412-425

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.10.014 Get rights and content

Abstract

Salmonids establish social hierarchies as a result of aggressive social interactions. The establishment of dominant or subordinate status is strongly linked to neuroendocrine responses mediated through the stress axis. In this study, we tested the effects of introcerebroventricular (icv) corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) on the behavioral outcome, plasma cortisol and monoamine function in trout subjected to a socially aggressive encounter. Rainbow trout were treated with an icv injection of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF), 500 or 2000 ng ovine CRF, or not injected. Fish were allowed to interact with a similarly sized conspecific for 15 min. Following the behavioral interaction, plasma cortisol and central monoamine concentrations were analyzed. Trout treated with CRF were victorious in approximately 66% of the aggressive encounters against aCSF-treated opponents. Trout injected with CRF exhibited a reduction in the total number of attacks and decreased latency to attack. When trout were divided into winners and losers, only victorious CRF-treated fish exhibited a reduced latency to attack and fewer retreats. Social stress increased cortisol levels in both winners and losers of aggressive interaction. This effect was enhanced with the additional stress incurred from icv injection of aCSF. However, icv CRF in addition to social stress decreased plasma cortisol in both winners and losers. While aggression stimulated significant changes in serotonergic and dopaminergic activity, the magnitude and direction were dependent on limbic brain region, CRF dose, and outcome of social aggression. With broad effects on aggressive behavior, anxiety, stress responsiveness, and central monoaminergic activity, CRF plays an important role in modulating the behavioral components of social interaction.

Section snippets

Subjects and housing

Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss; raised from eggs) weighing 150±30 g were housed indoors in a 6-foot diameter circular tank under natural light conditions prior to experimentation (Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery, Yankton, SD, USA). Fish were fed daily with sinking trout feed (Nelson’s Silver Cup, Murray, Utah, USA) at a rate of 1% body weight per day. All experiments were conducted in a manner that minimized suffering and the number of animals used, in accordance with the

Behavior

Social interaction was initially tested between sized-paired fish, one injected icv with aCSF and the other with CRF (either 500 or 2000 ng doses). A greater percentage of fights was won by fish treated with CRF, regardless of dose (Fisher exact, P<0.022; Fig. 2). However, the most meaningful results are revealed by examining the effects of CRF on specific types of behavior.

Discussion

Trout treated icv with either of two doses CRF tended to win aggressive interactions when paired with size-matched fish injected icv with saline (Fig. 2). However, the CRF-treated trout did not win all such interactions. Nonetheless, CRF treatment did influence specific behaviors that control the fight outcome, such as total attacks, latency to attack, retreats and ratio of attacks to retreats (Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5). Treatment with CRF suppressed plasma cortisol concentrations elevated by the

Conclusion

While icv CRF treatment did influence aggressive interactions, the results may be more easily understood as an effect on anxious and motivated behaviors. The outcome of an aggressive interaction is complex. Central CRF influenced overall attacks, latency to first attack, and retreat behavior, but only in winners. The icv injection procedure is stressful, and stimulated an increase in plasma cortisol, an effect that was suppressed by treatment with icv CRF. Aggressive social interaction had a

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Gavin's Point National Fish Hatchery in Yankton, South Dakota for their gracious donation of fish, time and effort, without which this experiment would not have been possible. This work was supported by NIH Grant P20 RR15567, and a South Dakota Board of Regents Fellowship (to R.E.C.).

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Behavioural NeuroscienceCorticotropin releasing factor influences aggression and monoamines: Modulation of attacks and retreats

Abstract

Section snippets

Subjects and housing

Behavior

Discussion

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

Gen Comp Endocrinol

Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol

Brain Res

Anal Biochem

Pharmacol Biochem Behav

Horm Behav

Gen Comp Endocrinol

Regul Pept

Gen Comp Endocrinol

Gen Comp Endocrinol

Physiol Behav

Peptides

Brain Res Rev

Behav Brain Res

Pharmacol Biochem Behav

Gen Comp Endocrinol

Pharmacol Biochem Behav

Behav Brain Res

Physiol Behav

Behav Brain Res

Brain Res Mol Brain Res

Brain Res

Brain Res

Gen Comp Endocrinol

Horm Behav

Horm Behav

Horm Behav

Neurosci Biobehav Rev

Horm Behav

Brain Res

Life Sci

Neurosci Biobehav Rev

Horm Behav

Neurosci Lett

Comp Biochem Physiol

CRF-related peptides contribute to stress response and regulation of appetite in hypoxic rainbow trout

Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol

Behavioural Neuroscience
Corticotropin releasing factor influences aggression and monoamines: Modulation of attacks and retreats