Collaborative Research: Neurogenetics of Social Behavior

该项目的目标是开发在非传统动物模型中操纵基因功能的方法，以了解加压素受体基因在调节社会行为中的作用。沉默或干扰老鼠的基因也有助于理解某些基因是如何影响行为的。然而，老鼠并不是研究行为的许多方面的理想工具，包括社会行为。比较生物学使用了种类繁多的物种，它们具有特殊的特征，这使它们成为研究特定问题的理想选择。例如，草原田鼠是一种一夫一妻制的啮齿动物，已经被用来理解分子如何在特定的大脑回路中发挥作用，以促进社会联系。仓鼠更孤独，表现出强大的领地行为，已被用来研究大脑分子在社会交流中的作用。然而，由于无法操纵基因，这些非传统物种对于了解特定基因在控制行为中的作用的效用一直受到限制。该项目的目标是在仓鼠和草原田鼠身上使用两种不同的方法来沉默加压素受体基因。一种方法将有效地抑制加压素受体基因的表达，而另一种方法将在基因中引入突变，使其无效。通过控制这种基因的表达，人们将更深入地了解它在调节社会行为方面的作用，包括社会纽带和领土行为。此外，这些方法的发展应该适用于广泛的哺乳动物物种，这些物种有助于研究不同的问题。这些方法在仓鼠和草原田鼠身上的发展将对比较行为神经科学产生变革。这个项目将吸引从高中到研究生的学生进行比较研究，解决社会行为的潜在神经遗传学问题。此外，与亚特兰大动物园的合作伙伴关系将有助于开发新的研究和教育展品，这些展品将有助于教育公众有关社会行为的神经遗传学。

The goal of this project is to develop approaches to manipulate gene function in non-traditional animal models to understand the role of the vasopressin receptor gene in regulating social behavior. Silencing or disrupting genes in mice has also helped to understand how certain genes influence behaviors. However, mice are not ideal for studying many aspects of behaviors, including social behaviors. Comparative biology uses a wide variety of species with particular characteristics that make them ideal for studying the particular questions. For example, prairie voles are a monogamous rodent species that have been used to understand how molecules act within certain brain circuits to promote social bonding. Hamsters are more solitary and display robust territorial behavior, and have been used to investigate the roles of brain molecules in social communication. However, the utility of these non-traditional species for understanding the roles of specific genes in controlling behavior has been limited because of the inability to manipulate genes. The goal of this project is to use parallel approaches in hamsters and prairie voles to silence the vasopressin receptor gene using two different approaches. One approach will effectively silence vasopressin receptor gene expression, while the other will introduce a mutation in the gene, making it ineffective. By manipulating the expression of this gene, more insights into its role in regulating social behaviors, including social bonding and territorial behaviors will be achieved. Furthermore, the development of these approaches should be applicable to a wide range of mammalian species that are useful for studying different questions. The development of these approaches in hamsters and prairie voles will be transformative for comparative behavioral neuroscience. This project will engage students, ranging from high school to graduate school, in comparative studies addressing the underlying neurogenetics of social behavior. Also, partnerships with Zoo Atlanta will be instrumental in developing new research and educational exhibits that will serve to educate the public on the neurogenetics of social behavior.