Impact of Long Term Stress on Individual Aggressivity

Author: Zurab Kuchukashvili
Co-authors: Nana Koshoridze, Lili Lekiashvili, Ketevan Menabde, Matrona Chachua
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We studied determination of the biochemical mechanisms developing under long-lasting psycho-emotional stress in naturally aggressive and nonaggressive individuals and finding means for their management. Despite the fact that chronic stress and aggressive behavior is one of the most important problems today, it is still unknown how the sensitivity of an organism to chronic stress can be depending on its aggressiveness. Studying of the impact of one of the important stresses currently occurring in the social field – such as the stress caused by social isolation and violation of diurnal cycle – on the aggressiveness of individuals, establishing its mechanisms and its possible prevention. Our novelty were study of the biochemical mechanisms of functioning of the creatine kinase and anti-oxidant systems under stress in naturally aggressive and nonaggressive individuals and definition of the possibly protective role of creatine in the process. This will constitute an entirely new approach in the use of creatine. The experiments will be conducted on naturally aggressive and nonaggressive male albino laboratory rats. The following tasks has been planned: The impact of long-lasting psycho-emotional stress on the behaviour of naturaly aggressive and nonaggressive individuals. The studies under creatine administration: functioning of the Cr/CK/PCr system; establishment of oxidative stress and anti-oxidant status. Results outlined a different picture when judged based on prolonged psycho-emotional stress. It was seen that the psycho-emotional stress caused by prolonged isolation and disrupted circadian rhythm does not uniformly affect the antioxidant system of naturally aggressive and non-aggressive rats. It was established that when under stress, change of biochemical parameters, such as enzyme activity and lipid superoxidation, is much more drastic in aggressive animals. The results may suggest that biochemical processes in brain are conducted at a similar rate in both aggressive and non-aggressive animals. However, aggressive individuals, when subjected to psycho-emotional stress, show a higher sensitivity to the changes. Similar unreliable changes were also found in case of activity of the enzymes involved in energy metabolism, such as succinate dehydrogenase, aconitase, fumarase, creatine kinase. This must indicate oxidizing phosphorylation and ATP synthesis is conducted at the same rate in both groups. The new knowledge obtained for people working in any field of human activity, making it possible to prevent the failures of metabolic processes characteristic for chronic psycho-emotional stress; in penitentiary system it will allow improving the conditions of inmates; for the many aspects in stress biochemistry as the understanding of biochemical mechanisms of important processes.