Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol induced inhibition of predatory aggression in the rat

  • Published:
Psychopharmacologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol inhibits predatory aggression in rats. Increases in the degree of inhibition are obtained with increasing dosages of the drug. Although sex and strain of the subjects varied nonsystematically, inhibition of predatory aggression uniformly was found to be dose related. Readministration of Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol did not effect motor activity measures at dose levels which inhibit aggression. Administration of Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol increases whole brain serotonin, while norepinepherine is largely unaffected, indicating that the anti-aggressive effect may be mediated, in part, by serotonergic mechanisms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bandler, R. J., Jr.: Facilitation of aggressive behavior in the rat by direct cholinergic stimulation of the hypothalamus. Nature (Lond.) 224, 1035–1036 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandler, R. J., Jr.: Cholinergic synapses in the lateral hypothalmus for the control of predatory aggression in the rat. Brain Res. 20, 409–424 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloom, R.: The effects of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on aggression in humans. Unpublished dissertation, Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.

  • Bose, B. C., Saifi, A. Q., Bhagwat, A. W.: Studies on pharmacological actions of Cannabis indica (Linn.) Part III. Arch. int. Pharmacodyn. 147, 291–297 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, H.: Some anticholinergic-like behavioral effects of trans (−)-Δ 8 tetrahydrocannabinol. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 21, 294–301 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Carder, B., Olson, J.: Marihuana and shock induced aggression in rats. Physiol. Behav. (in press) (1972).

  • Carlini, E. A., Masur, J.: Development of aggressive behavior in rats by chronic administration of Cannabis sativa. Life Sci. 8, 607–620 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlini, E. A., Masur, J.: Development of fighting behavior in starved rats by chronic administration of (−)Δ 9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabis extracts. Comm. Beh. Biol. 5, 57–61 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewey, W. L., Harris, L. S., Kennedy, J. S.: Some pharmacological and toxicological effects of 1-trans-Δ 8 and 1-trans-Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol in laboratory rodents. Arch. int. Pharmacodyn. 196, 133–145 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenimore, D. C., Loy, P. R.: Injectable dispersion of Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol in saline using polyvinylphyrrolidone. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 23, 310 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernstrom, J. D., Wurtman, R. J.: Brain serotonin content: Increase following ingestion of carbohydrate diet. Science 174, 1023–1025 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuxe, K., Jonnson, J.: The effect of tetrahydrocannabinols on central monoamine neurons. Acta pharm. suecica 8, 695 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Garattini, S.: Effect of a Cannabis extract on gross behavior. In Hashish: Its chemistry and pharmacology. G. E. W. Wolstenholme and J. Knight, Eds. Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown, and Co. 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill, E. W., Paton, W. D. M., Pertwee, R. G.: Preliminary experiments on the chemistry and pharmacology of cannabis. Nature (Lond.) 228, 134–136 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, M. E., Salama, A. I.: Norepinephrine turnover and brain monoamine levels in aggressive mouse-killing rats. Biochem. Pharmacol. 18, 532–534 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez, S. C., Matsudo, V. K. R., Carlini, E. A.: Effects of marihuana compounds on the fighting behavior of Siamese Fighting fish (Betta splendens). Pharmacology 6, 186–190 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, J.: Marijuana: The new prohibition. New York: World Publishing 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilbey, M. M., McLendon, D. M., Fritchie, G. E., Johnson, K. M.: Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol induced inhibition of attack behavior in the mouse. Nature (Lond.) 283, 463–465 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilbey, M. M., Harris, R. T., Moore, J. W., Jr.: Effects of Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinol on appetitive- and aggressive-rewarded maze performance in the rat. Physio. Psy. (1973a).

  • Kilbey, M. M., Forbes, W. B., Olivetti, C. C.: Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol: Inhibition of deprivation- and carbachol-induced water consumption in the rat after central and peripheral administration. Beh. Biol. (1973b).

  • Kulkarni, A. S.: Muricidal block produced by 5-hydroxytryptophan and various drugs. Life Sci. 7, 125–128 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lagerspetz, K. Y. H., Tirri, R., Lagerspetz, K. M. J.: Neurochemical and endocrinological studies of mice bred for aggressiveness. Scand. J. Psychol. 9, 157–160 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Layman, J. M., Milton, A. S.: Some actions of Δ 1-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol at cholinergic junctions. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 41, 379P-380P (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Leibowitz, S. F.: Hypothalamic alpha-adrenergic suppression of drinking: Effects on several types of thirst. Proceedings, 80th Ann. Conv. Am. Psychol. Ass. 7, 845–846 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Leonard, B. E.: The effect of Δ 1.6-tetrahydrocannabinol on biogenic amines and their amino acid precursors in the rat brain. Pharm. Res. Commun. 3, 139–145 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Maitre, L., Stahelin, M., Bein, H. J.: Effect of an extract of cannabis and of some cannabinols on catecholamine metabolism in rat brain and heart. Agents and Actions 1, 136–143 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Maitre, L.: Effects of some cannabinols on biosynthesis of brain amines and on pituitary response in the rat. Acta pharm. suecica 8, 693 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Manning, F. J., McDonough, J. H., Jr., Elsmore, T. F., Saller, C., Sodetz, F. J.: Inhibition of normal growth by chronic administration of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Science 174, 424–426 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, J. F., Turner, B. H., Teitelbaum, P.: Sensory neglect produced by lateral hypothalamic damage. Science 174, 523–525 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Masur, J., Martz, R. M. W., Carlini, E. A.: Effects of acute and chronic administration of Cannabis sativa and (−)Δ 9-trans-tetrahaydrocannabinol on the behavior of rats in an open-field arena. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 19, 388–397 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonough, J. H., Manning, F. J., Elsmore, T. F.: Reduction of predatory aggression of rats following administration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Life Sci. 11, 103–111 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Moyer, K. E.: Kinds of aggression and their physiological basis. Comm. Behav. Biol. 2, 56–87 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Runyon, R. P., Haber, A.: Fundamentals of behavioral statistics. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley Publ. Co. 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos, M., Sampaio, M. R. P., Fernandes, N. S., Carlini, E. A.: Effects of Cannabis sativa (Marihuana) on the fighting behavior of mice. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 8, 437–444 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheving, L. E., Harrison, W. H., Gordon, P., Pauly, J. E.: Daily fluctuations (circadian and ultradian) in biogenic amines in the rat brain. Amer. J. Physiol. 214, 166–173 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schildkraut, J. J., Efron, D. H.: The effects od Δ 7-tetrahydrocannabinol on the metabolism of norepinephrine in rat brain. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 20, 191–196 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sofia, R. D., Dixit, B. N., Barry, H., III.: The effect of Δ 1-tetrahydrocannabinol on serotonin metabolism in the rat brain Life. Sci. 10, 425–436 (1971a).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sofia, R. D., Ertel, R. J., Dixit, B. N., Barry, H., III.: The effect of Δ 1-tetrahydrocannabinol on the uptake of serotonin by rat brain homogenates. Europ. J. Pharmacol. 16, 257–259 (1971b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, D. E., King, M. D., Hoebel, B. G.: Lateral hypothalamic control of killing: Evidence for a cholinergic mechanism. Science 167, 900–901 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Truitt, E. B., Jr., Anderson, S. M.: Biogenic amine alterations produced in the brain by tetrahydrocannabinols and their metabolites. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 191, 68–73 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Valentino, D. A.: The roles of serotonin turnover and the effects of p-chlorophenylalanine and food deprivation on the development of muricide in rats. University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 71–30, 386.

  • Valzelli, L.: Biological and pharmacological aspects of aggressiveness in mice. C.I.N.P. 5th Intern. Cong., Washington, D. C., 1966 (H. B. West, Ed.) pp. 781–788.

  • Welch, A. S., Welch, B. L.: Solvent extraction method for simultaneous determination of norepinepherine, dopamine, serotonin, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in a single mouse brain. Analyt. Biochem. 30 (1969).

  • Winer, B. J.: Statistical principles in experimental design. New York: McGraw Hill 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wise, C. D.: An improved and simplified method for the fluorimetric determination of brain serotonin. Analyt. Biochem. 18, 94–101 (1967a).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wise, C. D.: The fluorimetric determination of brain serotonin. Analyt. Biochem. 20, 369–371 (1967b).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Houston, USA

    M. Marlyne Kilbey & J. Will Moore Jr.

  2. School of Public Health, University of Texas, Houston, Texas

    Margaret Hall

Authors
  1. M. Marlyne Kilbey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Will Moore Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Margaret Hall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kilbey, M.M., Moore, J.W. & Hall, M. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol induced inhibition of predatory aggression in the rat. Psychopharmacologia 31, 157–166 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00419815

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00419815

Key words

Search

Navigation