6-Hydroxydopa depletion of brain norepinephrine and the function of aggressive behavior.

A significant increase in shock-induced aggression occurs in the rat 4 days after an intraventricular injection of 90 micrograms of 6-hydroxydopa. Both fluorescent histology and biochemical assay demonstrate that brain norepinephrine is reduced by 90 micrograms of 6-hydroxydopa, while brain dopamine remains unaltered. This suggests that one form of aggressive behavior (shock-induced aggression) is modulated through a central noradrenergic system.