This ethopharmacological investigation comprised a long-term field study that examined the function of serotonergic and vasotonergic systems in territoriality. Adult territorial and non-territorial (silent) male coquí frogs (Eleutherodactylus coqui) were injected (IP) with either arginine vasotocin (AVT) or one of two serotonin agonists, 5-HT_2A/2C selective agonist, (±) DOI – [(±)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane], or 2) the 5-HT_1A selective agonist, 8-OH-DPAT – [(±)-2-dipropylamino-8-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene]. Control groups received saline injections. Each male received two injections. Following the first injection, whether AVT or a 5HT agonist, the male was observed so that behavior could be documented prior to the second injection, which consisted of the other drug class. All frogs were marked, placed back in the exact location as captured, and observed for all behaviors and vocalizations. Territoriality in E. coqui includes several behavioral components: movement into a calling site, presentation of dominant physical displays, emitting advertisement calls, and defense a territory (including the use of physical force and/or aggressive vocalizations). This investigation found that particular territorial behaviors were significantly influenced by 5HT and AVT action. Initiation of advertisement calling is activated by AVT and suppressed by 5HT, calling rate is affected by 5HT activation, presentation of dominant physical displays are activated by AVT and repressed by 5HT activation, and movement associated with activation of territorial behavior is stimulated by AVT. These data suggested that both 5HT and AVT have a profound impact on territoriality and are two fundamental neuroendocrine systems that govern territorial behavior in social systems.

这项精神药理学调查包括一项长期的野外研究，检查了血清素和血管素系统在领土上的功能。给成年领土和非领土（沉默）雄性柯基蛙（Eleutherodactylus coqui ）注射精氨酸血管收缩素（AVT）或两种5-羟色胺激动剂中的一种，即5-HT _{2A / 2C}选择性激动剂，（±）DOI – [ （±）-1-（2,5-二甲氧基-4-碘苯基）-2-氨基丙烷]或2）5-HT _1A选择性激动剂8-OH-DPAT – [（±）-2-二丙基氨基-8-羟基-1,2,3,4-四氢萘]。对照组接受盐水注射。每个男性接受两次注射。第一次注射后，无论是AVT还是5HT激动剂，均观察到雄性，因此可以在第二次注射之前记录其行为，该次注射由另一种药物组成。标记所有青蛙，放回捕获的确切位置，并观察所有行为和发声。在属地E.科基包括几个行为组成部分：移入呼叫站点，呈现主要的物理显示，发出广告呼叫以及防御区域（包括使用物理武力和/或激进的发声）。这项调查发现，特定的领土行为受到5HT和AVT作用的显着影响。广告呼叫的启动由AVT激活，并由5HT抑制，呼叫速率受5HT激活影响，主要物理显示的呈现由AVT激活，并由5HT激活抑制，并且与区域行为激活相关的移动受AVT刺激。这些数据表明5HT和AVT都对领土性产生深远影响，并且是控制社会系统中领土行为的两个基本神经内分泌系统。