BRAIN SEROTONIN AND BEHAVIOR IN SELECTED STRAINS OF RATS (thesis)

Abstract

Possible relations between non-cholinergic neurohumoral systems in brain and behavior were investigated. Three sets of experiments were performed with this in mind. First, strain differences in brain serotonin, DL3,4- dihydroxyphenylalanine decarboxylase (DOPAD), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) activities were investigated together with cholinesterase (ChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, and the results were related to known behavioral differences between the rat strains. Second, the S/sub 1/ and S/sub 3/ strains were investigated more thoroughly with respect to withinstrain correlations between brain serotonin and behavior. Third, the direction of study was reversed, and the effects of environmental stimulation on brain serotonin were investigated in the S/sub 1/ and S/sub 3/ strains. (auth)