The effects of amino-oxyacetic acid and isolation on GABA levels in the hypothalamus, left amygdaloid, right amygdaloid and olfactory bulbs of muricidal and non-muricidal rats / by Paul Bolin, Jr.
| Author/creator | Bolin, Paul author. |
| Other author | DaVanzo, John P., degree supervisor. |
| Other author | East Carolina University. Department of Biology. |
| Format | Theses and dissertations |
| Production | 1980. |
| Description | x, 93 leaves, 7 leaves of plates : illustrations ; 28 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Access via ScholarShip |
| Subjects |
| Summary | The role of isolation and GABA in the development of muricidal behavior has never been clearly elucidated. In this study one hundred rats were randomly divided into five groups which were either isolated or aggregated for seven days prior to muricidal testing. Upon sacrifice the following brain areas were tested for GABA content: hypothalamus, left and right amygdaloid areas and olfactory bulbs. Fifty-three percent of isolated animals developed muricidal behavior whereas twenty-three percent of the aggregated rats became muricidal. In all brain areas tested GABA was significantly lower in isolated animals. In all regions of brain taken from muricidal animals, GABA was significantly lower than those of their non-muricidal counterparts. Administration of amino-oxyacetic acid, a GABA transaminase inhibitor, resulted in a preferential elevation of GABA levels in the olfactory bulbs. The drug significantly inhibited muricidal behavior in all groups. It is concluded from this study that isolation is a dominant component in the induction of muricidal behavior and that low GABA levels are associated with both muricidal behavior and the isolation. |
| General note | "Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Biology." |
| General note | Advisor: John P. DaVanzo |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University 1980 |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-93). |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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