Effects of p-chlorophenylalanine on the predatory behavior of Onychomys torridus.

Adult male and female grasshopper mice, Onychomys torridus, were treated over a 5 day period with p-chlorophenylalanine (50 mg/kg daily), a depletor of brain 5-HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE (5-HT). These mice exhibited a significant decrease over the 5 day test interval in predation time and predation score in encounters with cricket prey, However, the basic pattern and frequency of attacks for drug-treated mice remained similar to saline controls. The relation between the various brain amine systems and predatory behavior is discussed and the utility of the grasshopper mouse as a laboratory model for the study of predatory behavior is emphasized.