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Wu R, Xu Z, Song Z, Tai F. Providing or receiving alloparental care promote partner preference and alter central oxytocin and dopamine systems in adult mandarin voles. Horm Behav 2023; 152:105366. [PMID: 37116234 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Juveniles of cooperative breeding species usually remain in the natal area and provide care to younger siblings, a behavior considered one form of alloparenting in the natural condition. Previous studies have demonstrated the effects of providing or receiving alloparental care on adult behaviors, including anxiety-like behavior, social interaction, and parental behavior, but little is known about the influences on species-typical bonding behaviors, such as pair-bond formation. In this study, we explored this concept using socially monogamous mandarin voles (Lasiopodomys mandarinus). As the oxytocin (OT) and dopamine systems are involved in alloparental and pair-bonding behaviors, we also examined the levels of central OT and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), as well as OT receptor (OTR) and dopamine D1-type and D2-type receptors (D1R and D2R) mRNA expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and amygdala to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Our results show that mandarin voles providing alloparental care to younger siblings displayed facilitation of partner preference formation, lower levels of OT expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and lateral hypothalamus (LH), and increased OTR and D2R mRNA expression in the NAcc compared to controls. Individuals receiving alloparental care also demonstrated facilitation of partner preference formation in adult voles. Additionally, alloparental care enhanced OT expression in the PVN, anterior medial preoptic nucleus (MPOAa), medial amygdala (MeA), and TH expression in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and zona incerta (ZI). Furthermore, males displayed decreased D1R mRNA expression in the NAcc, whereas females showed slightly increased D2R expression in the amygdala. These results demonstrate that providing or received alloparental care can promote partner preference formation in monogamous species and that these changes are associated with altered OT and dopamine levels and their receptors in specific brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyong Wu
- Department of Animal Behavior, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China.
| | - Zedong Xu
- Department of Animal Behavior, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Zhenzhen Song
- Department of Animal Behavior, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China
| | - Fadao Tai
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China.
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Lee NS, Beery AK. Selectivity and Sociality: Aggression and Affiliation Shape Vole Social Relationships. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:826831. [PMID: 35330842 PMCID: PMC8940285 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.826831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of selective social relationships is not a requirement of group living; sociality can be supported by motivation for social interaction in the absence of preferences for specific individuals, and by tolerance in place of social motivation. For species that form selective social relationships, these can be maintained by preference for familiar partners, as well as by avoidance of or aggression toward individuals outside of the social bond. In this review, we explore the roles that aggression, motivation, and tolerance play in the maintenance of selective affiliation. We focus on prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) as rodent species that both exhibit the unusual tendency to form selective social relationships, but differ with regard to mating system. These species provide an opportunity to investigate the mechanisms that underlie social relationships, and to compare mechanisms supporting pair bonds with mates and same-sex peer relationships. We then relate this to the role of aggression in group composition in a comparative context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S. Lee
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, United States
| | - Annaliese K. Beery
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Annaliese K. Beery,
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Lian T, Zhang X, Wang X, Wang R, Gao H, Tai F, Yu Q. Neonatal exposure to chlordecone alters female social behaviors and central estrogen alpha receptor expression in socially monogamous mandarin voles. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2020; 9:173-181. [PMID: 32670549 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfaa014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlordecone (CD) is one of the common persistent organic pollutants in nature and has a profound impact on the environment and on public health. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that neonatal exposure of CD influences adult physiology and behavior due to its estrogenic properties. Using socially monogamous mandarin voles as an experimental animal model, the present study aimed to evaluate the impact of neonatal exposure to CD on female social behaviors and central estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression in adulthood. After receiving a single subcutaneous injection with sesame seed oil (female control group), 17 beta-estradiol (E2 group), or CD group on postnatal Day 1, the social behaviors of adult animals and ERα expression in specific brain regions were assessed. The data indicated that CD or E2-treated female animals displayed increased affiliative behaviors and decreased aggressive behaviors with regard to the unfamiliar females in the social interaction test. In addition, CD or E2-treated female voles exhibited significant preferences to females over males in the sexual preference test. Moreover, CD-treated female animals exhibited higher levels of ERα expression in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the central amygdala, the medial amygdala and the medial preoptic area compared with those of the control voles. The results suggested that neonatal exposure to CD may masculinize female social behaviors, possibly via CD-induced changes in the ERα expression of relevant brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Lian
- Institute of Basic and Translational Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xinwang Road, Weiyang District, Xi'an 710021, China.,Research Center for Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Disease, School of Clinical Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xinwang Road, Weiyang District, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Xudong Zhang
- China-Nepal Friendship Medical Research center of Rajiv Kumar Jha, Xi'an Medical University, Xinwang Road,Weiyang District, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Xiye Wang
- Research Center for Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Disease, School of Clinical Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xinwang Road, Weiyang District, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Medical University, Xinwang Road,Weiyang District, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Huan Gao
- Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Medical University, Xinwang Road,Weiyang District, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Fadao Tai
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Changan South Road, Yanta District, Xi'an 710062, China
| | - Qi Yu
- Institute of Basic and Translational Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xinwang Road, Weiyang District, Xi'an 710021, China
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