Abstract
Effects of lithium chloride on the social behaviour of male and female rats were measured in unfamiliar and familiar test situations using a photographic technique. Lithium-treated females showed an increase in body contact and a decrease in social distances in comparison with saline-treated controls in both test conditions. Males administered lithium showed increased corner occupancies in the novel test setting while in the familiar test they showed decreased body contact and increased average group social distance in comparison with the saline condition. Further tests in an exploration box confirmed that lithium decreased the general environmental responsiveness of male rats. The results are discussed with reference to the anti-aggressive effect of lithium.
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Syme, L.A., Syme, G.J. The role of sex and novelty in determining the social response to lithium chloride. Psychopharmacologia 40, 91–99 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429450
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00429450