Rat Fighting Behavior: Serum Dopamine-
-Hydroxylase and Hypothalamic Tyrosine Hydroxylase
Friedhelm Lamprecht 1,
Burr Eichelman 2,
Nguyen B. Thoa 3,
Redford B. Williams 4, and
Irwin J. Kopin 3
1 Laboratory of Clinical Science, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20014
2 Laboratory of Clinical Psychobiology, National Institute of Mental Health
3 Laboratory of Clinical Science
4 Laboratory of Clinical Psychobiology
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 4 weeks of daily periods of immobilization stress. One of two experimental groups was allowed 1 month of recovery. After 4 weeks of stress, there was a significant increase in shockinduced fighting, in the activity of serum dopamine-
-hydroxylase, and in the activity of hypothalamic tyrosine hydroxylase. The concentration of hypothalamic norepinephrine was not decreased. After 4 weeks of recovery, only serum dopamine-
hydroxylase activity returned to normal; it therefore appears that longterm stress may increase central catecholamine synthesis. possibly resulting in a persistent increase in aggressive behavior.