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Friday, October 17, 2008

Escalated Aggression after Alcohol Drinking in Male Mice: Dorsal Raphé and Prefrontal Cortex Serotonin and 5-HT1BReceptors
Neuropsychopharmacology (2008) 33, 2888–2899



A significant minority of individuals engages in escalated levels of aggression after consuming moderate doses of alcohol (Alc). Neural modulation of escalated aggression involves altered levels of serotonin (5-HT) and the activity of 5-HT1B receptors.

The aim of these studies was to determine whether 5-HT1B receptors in the dorsal raphé (DRN), orbitofrontal (OFC), and medial prefrontal (mPFC) cortex attenuate heightened aggression and regulate extracellular levels of 5-HT.

Approximately 60% of the mice were more aggressive after drinking Alc, confirming the aggression-heightening effects of 1.0 g/kg Alc. Infusion of 1 mug CP-94,253 into the DRN reduced both aggressive and motor behaviors. However, infusion of 1 mug CP-94,253 into the mPFC, but not the OFC, after Alc drinking, increased aggressive behavior. In the mPFC, reverse microdialysis of CP-94,253 increased extracellular levels of 5-HT; levels decreased immediately after the perfusion. This 5-HT increase was attenuated in self-administering mice.

These results suggest that 5-HT1B receptors in the mPFC may serve to selectively disinhibit aggressive behavior in mice with a history of Alc self-administration.

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