Document Type : Mini-reviews
Authors
1
Egypt Healthcare Authority, Comprehensive Health Insurance, Ismailia, Egypt.
2
Pharmacology & Toxicology department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
3
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo, Egypt.
4
Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
Abstract
SWhen animals are housed in a group, they form social hierarchy, which may have a great influence on the cognitive abilities and health of the individuals of this group. The rank order of this social hierarchy may have its consequences on the individual survival, reproduction, and general health. Social hierarchy is formed based on the agonistic interactions among members of the group. Several methods of assessment of rank order in a specific group of animals have been developed in different behavioral laboratories; these included modified food competition test, sucrose solution competition test, water competition test, and tube test. It has been proposed that the aggressive behavior of animals is modulated by serotonin (5-HT) activity in the brains of the animals. Increased aggressive behavior was reported to be linked to decreased 5-HT level in the brain, and vice versa, submission was induced in animals by increased 5-HT activity in the brain. Administration of 5-HT agonists, e.g., fluoxetine, which inhibits the reuptake of serotonin from the synaptic area to the nerve terminal and therefore elevates synaptic serotonin level, could decrease aggression; whereas administration of ondansetron, which is a 5-HT receptor antagonist, could increase aggression in animals. The aim of the current review is to discuss the basis of social hierarchy, the role of central 5-HT, and the behavioral effects of 5-HT agonists and antagonists.
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