Abstract
Social interaction is stressful and subordinate individuals are often subjected to chronic stress, which greatly affects both their behavior and physiology. In teleost fish the social position of an individual may have long-term effects, such as effects on migration, age of sexual maturation or even sex. The brain serotonergic system plays a key role in coordinating autonomic, behavioral and neuroendocrine stress responses. Social subordination results in a chronic activation of the brain serotonergic system an effect, which seems to be central in the subordinate phenotype. However, behavioral effects of short-term acute activation of the serotonergic system are less obvious. As in other vertebrates, divergent stress coping styles, often referred to as proactive and reactive, has been described in teleosts. As demonstrated by selective breeding, stress coping styles appear to be partly heritable. However, teleost fish are characterized by plasticity, stress coping style being affected by social experience. Again, the brain serotonergic system appears to play an important role. Studies comparing brain gene expression of fish of different social rank and/or displaying divergent stress coping styles have identified several novel factors that seem important for controlling aggressive behavior and stress coping, e.g., histamine and hypocretin/orexin. These may also interact with brain monoaminergic systems, including serotonin.
Highlights
The development of a dominance based social hierarchy is common among vertebrates, including teleost fish (Huntingford and Turner, 1987)
Social subordination is an intense stressor and subordinate fish are subjected to chronic social stress and display elevated plasma cortisol, reduced growth, a general behavioral inhibition and other signs of chronic stress (Winberg et al, 2016)
The effects of social stress has been mainly studied in the lab and the stress experienced by subordinate fish is obviously more intense in a confined environment, as in the lab or in an aquaculture setting, where they have limited possibilities to hide or escape (Sloman and Armstrong, 2002; Gilmour et al, 2005)
Summary
Social subordination results in a chronic activation of the brain serotonergic system an effect, which seems to be central in the subordinate phenotype. Teleost fish are characterized by plasticity, stress coping style being affected by social experience. The brain serotonergic system appears to play an important role. Studies comparing brain gene expression of fish of different social rank and/or displaying divergent stress coping styles have identified several novel factors that seem important for controlling aggressive behavior and stress coping, e.g., histamine and hypocretin/orexin. These may interact with brain monoaminergic systems, including serotonin
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