Social Subordination Stress, Behavior, and Central Monoaminergic Function in Female Cynomolgus Monkeys

Background: Social subordination in female cynomolgus monkeys is stressful and activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. In a previous experiment behavioral depression was observed in a subset of subordinates.

Methods: In the experiment reported here behavioral and physiological indicators of stress were evaluated in dominant and subordinate female cynomolgus monkeys, and brain dopaminergic activity was assessed, as reflected in the prolactin response to haloperidol, a dopamine2 (D2) receptor antagonist.

Results: Subordinates were aggressed more, spent more time in fearful scanning of the social environment, spent less time as the recipients of the active affiliative behavior of being groomed, had more variable heart rates in response to a novel environment, and were hypercortisolemic compared to dominants. Prolactin responses to haloperidol challenge were lower in subordinates than dominants, an observation consistent with the hypothesis that subordinate females have decreased D2 receptor function.

Conclusions: These observations suggest that social subordination is stressful and may alter brain dopaminergic function in primates. The neurophysiological characteristics of social subordinates may contribute to their susceptibility to depression.