Alcohol-induced aggression is a serious problem with serious, far-reaching consequences for individual and public health. The proposed study is expected to contribute new evidence to the existing body of knowledge of ethanol-heightened and other forms of escalated aggression. The project will examine individual differences in ethanol self-administration, vulnerability to ethanol-induced aggression, aggression following social-instigation, and escalated aggression following extinction of scheduled reinforcement. The research will utilize an animal model (i.e. mice), well-established ethanol self-administration techniques, the resident intruder paradigm, and detailed behavioral analyses. Escalated aggression may be due to interactions of GABA and 5-HT in mesocorticolimbic neurons. Therefore, the present project will investigate the role played select neurotransmitter systems, specifically GABA and 5-HT, in escalated aggression employing pharmaceutical receptor manipulations to determine if neurotransmitter systems play a predictive role in [modulating such behaviors. Thus, the present research should enhance current understanding of individual characteristics and neurochemical mechanisms involved in alcohol-heightened aggression. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32AA015013-01A1
Application #
6884218
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAA1-EE (20))
Program Officer
Egli, Mark
Project Start
2004-09-15
Project End
2007-09-14
Budget Start
2004-09-15
Budget End
2005-09-14
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$41,068
Indirect Cost
Name
Tufts University
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
073134835
City
Medford
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02155
Caldwell, Elizabeth E; Miczek, Klaus A (2008) Long-term citalopram maintenance in mice: selective reduction of alcohol-heightened aggression. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 196:407-16