Anti-aggressive effect of a new phenylpiperazine compound (DU27716) on hypothalamically induced behavioural activities

Abstract

Using the same hypothalamic electrodes, the following behaviour was evoked in male rats by electrical stimulation at roughly equal current intensities: attacks on a partner, teeth-chattering, switch-off behaviour and locomotion. Current thresholds were determined for each behaviour following the intraperitoneal administration of saline or DU27716, a new phenylpiperazine compound with interesting inhibitory effects on territorial and intermale aggression. DU27716 raised current thresholds for attack and teeth-chattering beginning at the lowest dose (4 mg/kg), whereas there was no effect on switch-off behaviour, and only a slight but significant effect on locomotion thresholds at the highest dose (8 mg/kg). The results provide support for the hypothesis that DU27716 possesses behaviourally selective, anti-aggressive properties, and illustrate the usefulness of hypothalamically induced behaviours as a pharmacological model.