Recently much public attention has been drawn to the issue of youth violence, particularly that associated with drug abuse. It is well documented that anabolic steroid use in adolescent teenagers is associated with a higher incidence of aggression and violence. However, the basic biobehavioral processes underlying the development and maintenance of the aggressive phenotype following adolescent anabolic steroid exposure remain unknown. Recently, we have used peripubertal Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) as an """"""""adolescent"""""""" animal model to show that anabolic steroid exposure during this period facilitates the development of a highly aggressive behavioral phenotype when tested as young adults. In addition, aggressive, anabolic steroid-treated adult animals present with altered brain chemistry, specifically vasopressin and serotonin afferent innervation to the anterior hypothalamic brain region implicated in the regulation of offensive aggression. The research outlined in this proposal is a continuation of our work on adolescent anabolic steroids and the behavioral neurobiology of aggression. These studies examine the biobehavioral effects of adolescent anabolic steroid exposure on aggression permanence and the anatomy and function of the anterior hypothalamic vasopressin and serotonin neural network controlling this behavior in hamsters. It is hypothesized that adolescent anabolic steroids disrupt the signaling equilibrium between anterior hypothalamic vasopressin and serotonin, facilitating the development and maintenance of the aggressive phenotype. It is possible that this disruption occurs at the level of the signal molecules themselves, and/or at the level of their receptors. To test this, we are asking two questions: (1) how has adolescent anabolic steroid exposure affected the vasopressin and serotonin neural systems and (2) are the changes in behavior and neurobiology permanent? Completion of the proposed research should provide new insight into the basic biobehavioral processes regulating adolescent anabolic steroid-induced aggression. This knowledge could provide a scientific basis for the rational treatment of aggressive, anabolic steroid abusers and a better understanding of the behavioral and biological changes that may predispose young individuals to behave in a self-destructive or violent manner later in Iife.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01DA010547-07A1S1
Application #
6796901
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Thadani, Pushpa
Project Start
1996-09-01
Project End
2008-03-31
Budget Start
2003-04-01
Budget End
2004-03-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$9,418
Indirect Cost
Name
Northeastern University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
001423631
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Morrison, T R; Sikes, R W; Melloni Jr, R H (2016) Anabolic steroids alter the physiological activity of aggression circuits in the lateral anterior hypothalamus. Neuroscience 315:1-17
Morrison, Thomas R; Ricci, Lesley A; Melloni Jr, Richard H (2016) Vasopressin differentially modulates aggression and anxiety in adolescent hamsters administered anabolic steroids. Horm Behav 86:55-63
Morrison, Thomas R; Ricci, Lesley A; Melloni Jr, Richard H (2015) Aggression and anxiety in adolescent AAS-treated hamsters: A role for 5HT3 receptors. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 134:85-91
Morrison, Thomas R; Ricci, Lesley A; Melloni, Richard H (2015) Dopamine D2 receptors act upstream of AVP in the latero-anterior hypothalamus to modulate adolescent anabolic/androgenic steroid-induced aggression in Syrian hamsters. Behav Neurosci 129:197-204
Morrison, Thomas R; Ricci, Lesley A; Melloni Jr, Richard H (2015) Anabolic/androgenic steroid administration during adolescence and adulthood differentially modulates aggression and anxiety. Horm Behav 69:132-8
Morrison, Thomas R; Ricci, Lesley A; Melloni Jr, Richard H (2014) ?-Aminobutyric acid neural signaling in the lateroanterior hypothalamus modulates aggressive behavior in adolescent anabolic/androgenic steroid-treated hamsters. Behav Pharmacol 25:673-83
Schwartzer, Jared J; Ricci, Lesley A; Melloni Jr, Richard H (2013) Prior fighting experience increases aggression in Syrian hamsters: implications for a role of dopamine in the winner effect. Aggress Behav 39:290-300
Ricci, Lesley A; Morrison, Thomas R; Melloni Jr, Richard H (2013) Adolescent anabolic/androgenic steroids: Aggression and anxiety during exposure predict behavioral responding during withdrawal in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Horm Behav 64:770-80
Ricci, Lesley A; Morrison, Thomas R; Melloni Jr, Richard H (2012) Serotonin modulates anxiety-like behaviors during withdrawal from adolescent anabolic-androgenic steroid exposure in Syrian hamsters. Horm Behav 62:569-78
Carrillo, Maria; Ricci, Lesley A; Melloni, Richard H (2011) Glutamate and the aggression neural circuit in adolescent anabolic steroid-treated Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Behav Neurosci 125:753-63

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