A Social Network Approach Reveals Associations between Mouse Social Dominance and Brain Gene Expression

摘要: Modelling complex social behavior in the laboratory is challenging and requires analyses of dyadic interactions occurring over time a physically socially environment. In current study, we approached group-housed male CD1 mice living large vivarium. Intensive observations during 3-week period indicated that form highly linear steep dominance hierarchy maintained by fighting chasing behaviors. Individual animals were classified as dominant, sub-dominant or subordinate according to their David’s Scores I& SI ranking. Using novel dynamic temporal Glicko rating method, ascertained was stable across time. network analyses, characterized individuals within 66 unique relationships group. We identified two individual metrics, Kleinberg’s Hub Centrality Bonacich’s Power Centrality, accurate predictors power. Comparing behaviors, establish agonistic, grooming sniffing networks possess own distinctive characteristics terms density, average path length, reciprocity out-degree centralization out-closeness centralization. Though ties between largely independent other networks, predictive directionality agonistic relationships. variation status associated with brain gene expression, more dominant having higher levels corticotropin releasing factor mRNA medial central nuclei amygdala preoptic area hypothalamus, well hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor brain-derived neurotrophic mRNA. This study demonstrates potential significance combining housing intensive behavioral characterization group-living utilization statistical methods further our understanding neurobiological basis at individual, relationship group levels.