Aggression increase and water competition decrease in squirrel monkeys given physostigmine injections.

Abstract

Six adult squirrel monkeys (Samiri sciureus) were tested in pairs for social dominance in a water competition task. Dominance was defined by two methods: (1) number and direction of aggressive responses, and (2) successful water competition as assessed by latency to the water bottle, latency to accumulate 15 seconds of drinking, and total drinking duration. Monkeys were assigned to pairs on a "round robin" basis so that each monkey was paired with all other monkeys under control, saline, and three levels of physostigmine sulfate (6.25, 12.5, and 25.0 microgram/kg). Under drug conditions only one member of each pair was drugged. The 12.5 microgram/kg dose of physostigmine resulted in a significant increase in aggressive responses. Both drinking duration and general motor activity decreased with increasing dose level of drug. It was also noted that the non-drugged partners of drugged monkeys accumulated 15 seconds of drinking faster and drank more at the 25 and 12.5 microgram/kg dose levels than under control and saline conditions. Physostigmine resulted in an increase in one measure of social dominance and a decrease in the other.