Behavioral-Neurochemical Correlation in Reactive and Nonreactive Strains of Rats

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Abstract
Male and female rats of the Maudsley reactive and Maudsley nonreactive strains were tested in the open-field to obtain ambulation and defecation scores. They were later killed, and their brains were dissected into five portions and analyzed for serotonin. Males defecated more and ambulated less than females, and nonreactive males ambulated more and defecated less than reactive males. These behavioral differences were significant ( p < .05). A statistically significant difference was found for the amounts of serotonin in specific regions of the brain between males and females (males higher) and between reactive and nonreactive males (reactive higher). Significant negative correlations between serotonin values in specific regions of brain and ambulation scores were found in these animals viewed as a group or even within a given strain and sex.