Effects of acute sublethal gamma radiation exposure on aggressive behavior in male mice: A dose-response study

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine; (USA)

OSTI ID:5347425

Maier, D M; Landauer, M R ^[1]

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1. Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, MD (USA)

The resident-intruder paradigm was used to assess the effects of gamma radiation (0, 3, 5, 7 Gray (Gy) cobalt-60) on aggressive offensive behavior in resident male mice over a 3-month period. The defensive behavior of nonirradiated intruder mice was also monitored. A dose of 3 Gy had no effect on either the residents' offensive behavior or the defensive behavior of the intruders paired with them. Doses of 5 and 7 Gy produced decreases in offensive behavior of irradiated residents during the second week postirradiation. The nonirradiated intruders paired with these animals displayed decreases in defensive behavior during this time period, indicating a sensitivity to changes in the residents' behavior. After the third week postirradiation, offensive and defensive behavior did not differ significantly between irradiated mice and sham-irradiated controls. This study suggests that sublethal doses of radiation can temporarily suppress aggressive behavior but have no apparent permanent effect on that behavior.

• OSTI ID: 5347425
• Journal Information: Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine; (USA), Journal Name: Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine; (USA) Vol. 60:8; ISSN ASEMC; ISSN 0095-6562
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BEHAVIOR
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
COBALT 60
COBALT ISOTOPES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DOSES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
GAMMA RADIATION
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MAMMALS
MICE
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RODENTS
SUBLETHAL IRRADIATION
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOT