NEURAL CONTROL OF SOCIAL BEHAVIORS IN PRAIRIE VOLES

描述(改编自申请人的摘要)：与 包括交配在内的共性导致了社会的变化 雄性草原田鼠(M.Ochrogaster)的行为 在很少的哺乳动物身上观察到的社会性组织。这些行为 更改，包括对它们的配偶和巢站点的偏好 保护，可能涉及神经肽精氨酸加压素(AVP)。 拟议的实验将通过行为观察和 组织学分析在治疗过程中接受的感觉刺激类型 社会互动对于改变人们的社会行为至关重要 这一物种，以及它们前脑AVP的变化 活动。 此外，床核AVP投射的特殊作用 终纹和杏仁内侧核至外侧隔 交配后的行为表现将使用以下方法进行调查 AVP胞体的神经毒性损伤及其部位特异性拮抗作用 AVP受体。

DESCRIPTION (adapted from applicant's abstract): Interactions with conspecifics which include copulation result in changes in the social behavior of male prairie voles (M. Ochrogaster), a species distinguished by a sociosexual organization observed in few mammals. These behavioral changes, which include preferences for their mate and nest site protection, likely involve the neuropeptide arginine-vasopressin (AVP.) The proposed experiments will determine via behavioral observations and histological analyses what type of sensory stimulation received during social interactions is critical for changes in the social behavior of this species, as well as for alterations in their forebrain AVP activity. Further, a specific role for the AVP projections from the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial amygdala to the lateral septum for post-copulatory behavioral displays will be investigated using neurotoxic lesions of AVP cell bodies and site-specific antagonism of AVP receptors.