Social behavior of monkeys selectively depleted of monoamines.

Initiated social interactions of Macaca speciosa are decreased during the period of treatment with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine, an inhibitor of catecholamine synthesis. The treated animals maintained stable body weights and appeared to be healthy. Similar depletion of indoleamines with p-chlorophenylalanine does not change these same observed behaviors in spite of weight loss, hair loss, ataxia, and debilitation in some of the animals.