EFFECTS OF RITANSERIN ON OFFENSE AND DEFENSE IN MALE-MICE

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.