ISSN:
1432-2072
Keywords:
Defense
;
Submission
;
Flight
;
Ethopharmacology
;
Pentylenetetrazol
;
Rat
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract In a previous work, using the resident-intruder situation, we have shown that a benzodiazepine inverse agonist could exert a “fear-promoting” effect, in decreasing self-defensive behaviours while increasing submissive postures. To further test this hypothesis, the effects of pentylenetetrazol on different forms of defensive behaviour were examined in male intruder rats confronted with offensive residents. Administration of pentylenetetrazol (10 and 20 mg/kg, IP) increased submissive postures such as immobility and on-the-back, but reduced self-defensive postures. Other active behaviours were not reduced, thus excluding a non-specific behavioural suppression. These results suggest that self-defensive and submissive behaviours can be dissociated and that anxiogenic compounds are more likely to increase submissive behaviours than self-defensive ones.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02245176
Permalink
