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Peripheral Injections of Dopamine (Dl) and Dopamine 2 (D2) Agonists and Antagonists Do Not Affect Sexual and Aggressive Behaviors in Male Green Anoles
Smith, Alexandra
Smith, Alexandra
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Text, Neuroscience, Honors papers, Text, Student research
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Abstract
Social behaviors are modulated by neurotransmitters, including dopamine. Dopamine is a
conserved neurotransmitter among vertebrates. Dopaminergic receptors of the 01 and 02
subtype are also conserved among taxa, and are involved in many different kinds of social
behaviors, such as sexual and aggressive behaviors in mammals and birds. However, the
functions of the receptors vary across taxa. In reptiles there have only been two studies
examining the relationship between the receptors and behaviors. This study examined the
effects of 01 and 02 agonists and antagonists on sexual and aggressive behaviors in the
male green anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis). For the 01 agonist, the following doses were
tested: 0.005 11g/kg, 0.05 jlgjkg, 0.001 mgjkg, 0.01 mgjkg, 0.1 mgjkg, 1.0 mgjkg, and 10.0
mgjkg. For the 02 agonist only the 1.0 and 10.0 mgjkg doses were tested. Both the 01 and
02 antagonists were tested at 0.1 and 1 mgjkg. Neither the agonists nor antagonists
affected social behaviors. These findings differ from previous research, which demonstrated
an effect of 01 and 02 agonists and antagonists on social behaviors in mammals and birds.
One potential reason for the lack of significance is that the drug may be binding to receptors
in various regions in the brain that could be causing counteracting effects. Future studies
should look at individually administering the drugs directly into brain regions known to
regulate sexual and aggressive behaviors.
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Permission has been provided by the author to publish this paper. The paper was submitted on a CD to the Archives.