Calcagnoli, F., Boer, S. F., Althaus, M., Boer, J. A., & Koolhaas, J. M. (2013). Antiaggressive activity of central oxytocin in male rats. Psychopharmacology, 229(4), 639–651.
Abstract: Rationale A substantial body of research suggests that the
neuropeptide oxytocin promotes social affiliative behaviors
in a wide range of animals including humans. However, its
antiaggressive action has not been unequivocally demonstrated
in male laboratory rodents.
Objective Our primary goal was to examine the putative
serenic effect of oxytocin in a feral strain (wild type
Groningen, WTG) of rats that generally show a much
broader variation and higher levels of intermale aggression
than commonly used laboratory strains of rats.
Methods Resident animals were intracerebroventricularly
(icv) administered with different doses of synthetic oxytocin
and oxytocin receptor antagonist, alone and in combination,
in order to manipulate brain oxytocin functioning and to
assess their behavioral response to an intruder.
Results Our data clearly demonstrate that acute icv administered
oxytocin produces dose-dependent and receptorselective
changes in social behavior, reducing aggression
and potentiating social exploration. These antiaggressive
effects are stronger in the more offensive rats. On the other
hand, administration of an oxytocin receptor antagonist
tends to increase (nonsignificantly) aggression only in
low–medium aggressive animals.
Conclusions These results suggest that transiently enhancing
brain oxytocin function has potent antiaggressive effects,
whereas its attenuation tends to enhance aggressiveness. In
addition, a possible inverse relationship between trait aggression
and endogenous oxytocinergic signaling is revealed.
Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of brain
oxytocinergic signaling for regulating intermale offensive aggression.
This study supports the suggestion that oxytocin
receptor agonists could clinically be useful for curbing heightened
aggression seen in a range of neuropsychiatric disorders
like antisocial personality disorder, autism, and addiction.
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Koolhaas, J. M., Korte, S. M., De Boer, S. F., Van Der Vegt, B. J., Van Reenen, C. G., Hopster, H., et al. (1999). Coping styles in animals: current status in behavior and stress-physiology. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 23(7), 925–935.
Abstract: This paper summarizes the current views on coping styles as a useful concept in understanding individual adaptive capacity and vulnerability to stress-related disease. Studies in feral populations indicate the existence of a proactive and a reactive coping style. These coping styles seem to play a role in the population ecology of the species. Despite domestication, genetic selection and inbreeding, the same coping styles can, to some extent, also be observed in laboratory and farm animals. Coping styles are characterized by consistent behavioral and neuroendocrine characteristics, some of which seem to be causally linked to each other. Evidence is accumulating that the two coping styles might explain a differential vulnerability to stress mediated disease due to the differential adaptive value of the two coping styles and the accompanying neuroendocrine differentiation.
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Weber-Mzell, D., Kotanko, P., Hauer, A. C., Goriup, U., Haas, J., Lanner, N., et al. (2004). Gender, age and seasonal effects on IgA deficiency: a study of 7293 Caucasians. European Journal of Clinical Investigation, 34(3), 224–228.
Abstract: Background The frequency of serum IgA deficiency (SIgAD) differs between populations. We examined the prevalence of SIgAD in healthy Caucasians. Materials and methods Serum immunoglobulin A (SIgA) was measured in 7293 volunteers (2264 women, 5029 men) aged 30 ± 14·2 years (mean ± SD; range: 12–66). Serum immunoglobulin A and subnormal SIgA levels were defined by a SIgA level < 0·07 g L-1, and between 0·07 and 0·7 g L-1, respectively. Means were compared by analysis of variance (anova) and analysis of covariance (ancova); frequencies by the χ2 test. Results Fifteen subjects (0·21%; one woman, 14 men) had SIgAD. Subnormal SIgA levels were found in 155 persons (2·13%): 21 females (0·93% of the females) and 134 males (2·66% of the males; difference: 1·74%; 95% CI: 1·12–2·33%; P < 0·001). Males were more likely to have subnormal SIgA levels or SIgAD (odds ratio 3·09, 95% CI: 1·97–4·85). The prevalence of SIgAD and subnormal SIgA was lowest in winter (χ2 = 14·8; P = 0·002; 3 d.f.; and χ2 = 43·2; P < 0·001; 3 d.f., respectively). Serum immunoglobulin A concentrations were significantly higher during winter. Serum immunoglobulin A levels increased with age on average by 0·2 ± 0·06 g L-1 per decade of life (P < 0·001). Taking into account the influence of age, SIgA concentration was lower in females as compared with males. Conclusion The prevalence of SIgAD and subnormal SIgA levels is increased in males. There exists a significant influence of gender, age and seasons on SIgA levels.
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