Program & Abstract Book - EPFL Latsis Symposium 2009

EPFL Latsis Symposium 2009: Understanding Violence
P-50
104
February 11-13 2009
op p o s i t e v a s o p r e s s i n r e l e a s e p a t t e r n s
within t h e b e D n u c l e u s s t r i a terminalis
a n D t h e l a t e r a l s e p t u m D u r i n g t h e D i s p l a y
o f i n t e r m a l e a g g r e s s i o n
Veenema, Alexa 1 ; Beiderbeck, Daniela 1 ; Neumann, Inga 1
1 Department of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Zoology,
University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
Vasopressin (AVP) has been implicated in intermale aggression, but little
is known about AVP neurotransmission during the display of intermale
aggression. We used intracerebral microdialysis to monitor the in vivo
secretory activity of AVP neurons within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis
(BST) and the lateral septum of adult male Wistar rats exposed
as residents to the 10-min resident-intruder test. A significant increase in
AVP release within the BST was found in non-aggressive rats compared
with aggressive rats and compared with basal AVP release. The behavioral
specificity of AVP release patterns was confirmed as both non-aggressive
and aggressive rats showed a similar increase in AVP release when exposed
to 10-min of forced swimming. Administration of the AVP V1a receptor
antagonist d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP into the BST of non-aggressive rats
did not increase the level of aggression. However, application of synthetic
AVP into the BST of aggressive rats significantly reduced the level of aggression.
In contrast to the BST, AVP release within the septum was significantly
increased in aggressive rats compared with non-aggressive rats
and compared with basal AVP release. Pharmacological manipulation of
the septal AVP system by local application of either synthetic AVP to nonaggressive
rats or the specific V1a receptor antagonist to aggressive rats
did not change the level of aggression. Taken together, we are the first to
show that the display of intermale aggression is associated with distinct
AVP release patterns within the BST and septum. Our data further indicate
that AVP release within the BST directly affects the display of aggression,
whereas AVP release within the lateral septum may rather be the consequence
of the display of aggression and may have delayed effects on
aggression-related behaviors, like anxiety and social memory.
This work was supported by the Bayerische Forschungsstiftung (AHV) and
the Deutsche Forschungsstiftung (IDN).