Stimulation of a specific drive (predatory behaviour) by p-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA) in the rat. 1975

H Kreiskott, and H P Hofmann

In contrast to wild rats the percentage of animals showing predatory behaviour is very low among laboratory rats. Stimulation of this specific drive by systemic drug application has been mentioned only for pCPA and delta9-tetrahydrocannabinole. As detailed investigations concerning this stimulating property of pCPA are not published, the effect was studied in selected non-biting rats (without starvation and isolation) regarding dose- and time-dependence after single and repeated drug administration; further, D- and L-isomers of pCPA were included in the investigation. After single oral application of 200 to 3200 mg/kg DL-pCPA a dose-dependent stimulation of predatory behaviour was found. Smaller doses (200 or 400 mg/kg p.o.) given repeatedly on 3 consecutive days showed effects comparable with those after single administration of much higher doses (1600 or 3200 mg/kg p.o.). With repeated oral application of 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg on 10 consecutive days no difference was found between D- and L-pCPA concerning efficacy and time course of drug effect. Both after single and repeated administration in all series of tests the effect reached its maximum not before several days and faded almost completely in the drug-free after-period. D-methamphetamine HCl, investigated comparatively as a CNS stimulant, provoked no predatory behaviour in a wide dose-range (0.125 to 8.0 mg/kg p.o.) with repeated administration on 10 consecutive days. Within the control groups (total number of rats = 100) no animal showed predatory attach during an observation-period of at least 3 weeks.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D010134 Fenclonine A selective and irreversible inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase, a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin (5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE). Fenclonine acts pharmacologically to deplete endogenous levels of serotonin. p-Chlorophenylalanine,para-Chlorophenylalanine,CP-10,188,DL-3-(4-Chlorophenyl)alanine,Fenclonin,Fenclonine (L)-Isomer,Fenclonine Hydrobromide,Fenclonine Hydrochloride,Fenclonine, (D)-Isomer,Hydrobromide, Fenclonine,Hydrochloride, Fenclonine,para Chlorophenylalanine
D011235 Predatory Behavior Instinctual behavior pattern in which food is obtained by killing and consuming other species. Predation,Behavior, Predatory,Predatory Behaviors
D000284 Administration, Oral The giving of drugs, chemicals, or other substances by mouth. Drug Administration, Oral,Administration, Oral Drug,Oral Administration,Oral Drug Administration,Administrations, Oral,Administrations, Oral Drug,Drug Administrations, Oral,Oral Administrations,Oral Drug Administrations
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001070 Appetitive Behavior Animal searching behavior. The variable introductory phase of an instinctive behavior pattern or sequence, e.g., looking for food, or sequential courtship patterns prior to mating. Searching Behavior,Appetitive Behaviors,Behavior, Appetitive,Behavior, Searching,Behaviors, Appetitive,Behaviors, Searching,Searching Behaviors
D013268 Stimulation, Chemical The increase in a measurable parameter of a PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESS, including cellular, microbial, and plant; immunological, cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, urinary, digestive, neural, musculoskeletal, ocular, and skin physiological processes; or METABOLIC PROCESS, including enzymatic and other pharmacological processes, by a drug or other chemical. Chemical Stimulation,Chemical Stimulations,Stimulations, Chemical
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus

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