EFFECTS OF SELECTIVE SEROTONERGIC AGONISTS ON AGGRESSIVE-BEHAVIOR IN RATS

The effects of the relatively specific serotonergic agonists 8-OH-DPAT (5-HT1A), TFMPP (5-HT1B), and DOE (5-HT2) were studied on defensive a ggressive behavior in rats using the water competition test. 8-OH-DPAT (up to 0.25 mg/kg) and TFMPP (up to 1 mg/kg) were found to be ineffec tive, whereas DOB (up to 0.4 mg/kg) significantly reduced aggressive b ehavior in this test as well as in the offensive aggression test of th e resident-intruder model. These results, combined with those from oth er studies, suggest that stimulation of 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, and 5-HT2 rece ptors reduces offensive aggression, whereas defensive aggression is on ly decreased by 5-HT2 stimulation.