CART peptide following social novelty in the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster)

摘要: Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are monogamous rodents that display high levels of affiliative behaviors, including pair-bonding, biparental care, and cooperative breeding. Species differences in basal cocaine- amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) mRNA peptide expression have been found between prairie polygamous meadow voles. Therefore, we hypothesized the CART system may play a role regulation social behavior this species. Male female adult were placed cage either alone, or with novel partner same opposite sex. After 45 min, subjects sacrificed was examined using immunohistochemistry. We fifteen hypothalamic, limbic, hindbrain regions interest, focusing on areas show species-specific patterns expression. paired conspecific had lower bed nucleus stria terminalis (BNST) than isolated animals. This reflect increased release following dopaminergic activity animals exposed to conspecific. Additionally, higher accumbens (NAc) an sex compared those same-sex conspecific, although there no difference socially housed group. These findings suggest NAc is differentially responsive conspecifics environment influences vole region- stimulus-specific manner.