Effects of ritanserin on agonistic behavior of isolated mice exhibitin
g aggressive or nonaggressive behavioral strategies were studied in pa
ir-wise encounters with group-housed opponents, An ethological approac
h to behavioral scoring is adopted, which allows for examination of th
e profiles of individual subjects, Although the data generally support
the view that ritanserin has little effect on offense or defense in m
ale mice, the stimulation of pre-aggressive behavior (threats, alerts,
tail rattles) was detected in some nonaggressive mice. (C) 1995 Wiley
-Liss, Inc.