CATECHOLAMINE LEVELS AND TYROSINE-HYDROXY LASE ACTIVITY IN BRAIN STRUCTURES OF MALE-MICE WITH GENETICALLY-DETERMINED TYPES OF BEHAVIOR IN POPULATION

Biosynthetic activity in brain catecholaminergic neurons was studied i n male mice with genetically determined dominant (PT strain) and subor dinate (CBA) behaviour. The dominant PT mice were characterized by hig her levels of catecholamines and tyrosine hydroxylase activity in most of the brain regions in comparison with subordinate CBA mice. Percent of animals with the dominant type of behaviour was high among the hyb rid F-1 males derived from PT and CBA mice. These offsprings inherited also the high levels of noradrenaline and dopamine as well as the hig h tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the striatum and the brain stem. Th e obtained data suggest that the high level of biosynthetic activity i n the brain catecholaminergic neurons is essential for coordination of the brain neurochemical systems in expression of the dominant male mi ce behaviour in a population.