The serotonin 1A receptor modulates the social behaviour within groups of a cooperatively-breeding cichlid

Highlights

• The serotonin 1A receptor is known to modulate aggression in vertebrates.

• We show in a cichlid fish that it has important effects on sociopositive behaviour.

• The receptor agonist increases aggression and reduces submissive and affiliative behaviour.

• The antagonist instead decreases aggressive behaviour and increases affiliation.

• The drug effects depend on the social setting and the stressfulness of the context.

Abstract

The neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) reduces aggressive behaviour in a number of vertebrates, and the 5-HT_1A receptor is known to be involved in this regulation. However, the role of this receptor in the modulation of sociopositive behaviour remains largely unknown. Here we investigated the role of the 5-HT_1A receptor in the regulation of aggressive, submissive and affiliative behaviour in the cooperatively-breeding cichlid Neolamprologus pulcher. In two experiments, we performed intramuscular injections of a 5-HT_1A agonist (8-OH-DPAT) and antagonist (Way-100635) followed by recordings of social behaviour of injected fish within their social groups. We determined the concentrations and post-injection times when the drugs had the greatest effect on social behaviour. We recorded spontaneous social behaviour in both experiments. In the second experiment we also recorded behaviour after social groups received a territorial challenge by live presentations of either conspecifics or egg predators. The 5-HT_1A agonist caused an increase in aggression and a decrease in submission and affiliation, whereas the antagonist had the opposite effects. Thus, the 5-HT_1A receptor plays an important regulatory role not only for aggressive but also sociopositive behaviour.