[Catecholamine levels and tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the brain structures of male mice with a determined behavioral type in a population].

Biosynthetic activity in brain catecholaminergic neurons was studied in male mice with genetically determined dominant (PT strain) and subordinate (CBA) behaviour. The dominant PT mice were characterized by higher levels of catecholamines and tyrosine hydroxylase activity in most of the brain regions in comparison with subordinate CBA mice. Percent of animals with dominant type of behaviour was high among the hybrid F1 males derived from PT and CBA mice. These offsprings inherited also the high levels of noradrenaline and dopamine as well as the high tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the striatum and the brain stem. The obtained data suggest that the level of biosynthetic activity in the brain catecholaminergic neurons is essential for coordination of the brain neurochemical systems in expression of the dominant male mice behaviour in a population.