The effects of lesions of the locus coeruleus and treatment with drugs affecting brain noradrenergic neurotransmission on dominant-subordinate behavior in rats competing for water.

The effect of lesions of the locus coeruleus (LC) and drugs either blocking or stimulating noradrenergic (NE) receptors on dominance behavior in Wistar rats was studied. Rats with destroyed LC displayed submissive behavior when paired with sham-operated animals. Treatment of dominant animals with clonidine, prazosin and propranolol markedly reduced dominance whilst treatment of submissive rats with either yohimbine or salbutamol transformed the submissive (subordinate) animal to dominant type. The role of brain NE neurons in dominant behavior in water-competition paradigm is discussed.