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Corticotropin Releasing Factor Receptors And Agonistic Behavior In Syrian Hamsters, Alicia N. Faruzzi
Corticotropin Releasing Factor Receptors And Agonistic Behavior In Syrian Hamsters, Alicia N. Faruzzi
Psychology Dissertations
Social conflict is a part of everyday life, and it can be a potent stressor for both humans and other animals. In the laboratory, when two Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) compete for territory, a dominance hierarchy is quickly formed. Becoming subordinate is a significant stressor resulting in increased release of adrenocorticotropic hormone, β-endorphin, and cortisol. Defeated hamsters will also subsequently fail to display territorial aggression in future social encounters and will instead display increased submissive behavior, even in the presence of a smaller, non-aggressive intruder. This change in behavior is consistent and long-lasting and has been termed conditioned defeat (CD). …