| Abstract: | Subcutaneous (sc) administration of capsaicin (50 mg/kg) at Postnatal Days 2 and 5 exerted long-term effects on isolation-induced aggressive behavior of adult mice of the CD-1 strain. Isolated capsaicin-treated mice (scored during a 10-min session) showed the highest frequency and the longest duration of total attacks, attacks, rattling, and offensive upright posture when compared with nonisolated capsaicin-treated Ss and both isolated and nonisolated vehicle control animals. Hypothalamic substance P (SP) was assessed by radioimmunoassay. Capsaicin treatment significantly lowered hypothalamic SP content in both isolated and nonisolated mice. Moreover, individual scores of isolated capsaicin-treated Ss showed a significant correlation between SP depletion and expression of offensive upright posture. Isolation per se was revealed to play an important role in depleting SP from the hypothalamus. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
