Article
Neurosciences
Vinicius E. de M. Oliveira, Trynke R. de Jong, Inga D. Neumann
Summary: Exacerbated aggression is a core symptom of several psychiatric disorders and can also affect women. Despite increasing evidence for sex-specificity, little is known about aggression in females. This study investigated the role of the oxytocin and arginine vasopressin systems in the central amygdala on aggressive behavior in female rats. The findings suggest that the central amygdala plays a moderate role in female aggression, and synthetic oxytocin and arginine vasopressin modulate aggressive behavior in female rats.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Pathology
Naka Okumura, Rina Takei, Hirotaka Kondo, Hisashi Shibuya
Summary: This study examined the morphology of 58 apocrine tumors in 31 domestic Richardson's ground squirrels and compared tumor subtypes with clinical information and histological findings. The majority of the tumors were apocrine adenocarcinomas, with the cystic papillary and micropapillary invasive types being the most common. There were correlations between tumor subtypes and tumor diameter, nuclear atypia, tumor margins, vascular invasion, and PAS positivity.
VETERINARY PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Scott Nunes, Martha P. Monroy Montemayor
Summary: "Adaptive functions of play can vary across species, reflecting behavioral ecology and evolutionary history. Juvenile play in Belding's ground squirrels (U. beldingi) improves motor skills, refines temperament and behavior, promotes exploration and adaptability, and influences important life events such as natal dispersal and territory defense."
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vinicius Elias de Moura Oliveira, Michael Lukas, Hannah Nora Wolf, Elisa Durante, Alexandra Lorenz, Anna-Lena Mayer, Anna Bludau, Oliver J. Bosch, Valery Grinevich, Veronica Egger, Trynke R. de Jong, Inga D. Neumann
Summary: This study establishes a model of enhanced aggression in virgin female rats and shows that oxytocin and vasopressin systems differentially modulate aggression in distinct neuronal populations of the lateral septum of female rats.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Shuli HUANG, Guoliang LI, Yongliang PAN, Mingjing SONG, Jidong ZHAO, Xinrong WAN, Charles J. KREBS, Zuoxin WANG, Wenxuan HAN, Zhibin ZHANG
Summary: This study found that high housing density induced more aggressive behavior, which significantly increased the expression of mRNA and protein of AVP and its receptor, but decreased the expression of mRNA and protein of OT and its receptor in specific brain regions of voles. These results suggest that density-dependent changes in the OT/AVP systems may play a significant role in the population regulation of small rodents by altering density-dependent aggressive behavior.
INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
James S. Hurst-Hopf, Martha P. Monroy P. Montemayor, Nyla N. Leonardi, Scott Nunes
Summary: This study examines the influence of social play behavior on the development of temperament in young animals. The researchers observed the play behavior of juvenile Belding's ground squirrels and conducted behavioral tests to measure docility. The results suggest that social play can refine temperament and promote more active responses in young animals.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Shuli Huang, Guoliang Li, Yongliang Pan, Jing Liu, Jidong Zhao, Xin Zhang, Wei Lu, Xinrong Wan, Charles J. Krebs, Zuoxin Wang, Wenxuan Han, Zhibin Zhang
Summary: The study reveals a close relationship between population density of small rodents and aggressive behavior, as well as the expression of oxytocin and vasopressin in specific regions of the brain. High population density leads to more aggressive behavior, increased expression of vasopressin and its receptor, and decreased expression of oxytocin and its receptor in Brandt's voles. These changes are likely a result of increased psychosocial stress experienced by voles during overcrowding, suggesting that the oxytocin/vasopressin system can serve as indicators of density-dependent stressors.
FRONTIERS IN ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Wenjuan Hou, Huan Ma, Yufeng Xun, Xin Zhang, Wenqi Cai, Shuying Huang, Zhixiong He, Fadao Tai, Rui Jia
Summary: The study found that CSDS affects behavioral performance and levels of social withdrawal in monogamous mandarin voles, with the OT and AVP systems potentially playing important regulatory roles in sex differences of behavioral performances.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Stuart R. Green, Kenneth B. Storey
Summary: This study investigates the regulation of citrate synthase in the muscle tissue of a small mammalian hibernator by comparing functional and structural properties. The results show that citrate synthase is inhibited in the ground squirrel skeletal muscle during hibernation, possibly mediated by decreases in succinylation. This inhibition is reflected in the enzyme activity and levels of lysine succinylation.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Olga Wronikowska-Denysiuk, Weronika Mrozek, Barbara Budzynska
Summary: Drug abuse is a global problem that has negative consequences on physical, mental, and economic aspects. The oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) systems have shown potential as therapeutic targets for drug abuse treatment. Both OT and AVP can reduce drug consumption and ameliorate their rewarding effects. Additionally, these neuropeptides are involved in social and reward behaviors. Therefore, understanding the relationship between OT and AVP and the behavioral effects of drugs of abuse may contribute to more successful drug development.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Nicole Rigney, Geert J. de Vries, Aras Petrulis, Larry J. Young
Summary: This article reviews the regulatory effects of oxytocin and vasopressin on social behavior and summarizes the circuit-based mechanisms related to social behaviors. It discusses the use of modern molecular genetic technologies to study neuropeptide circuits and explores the species diversity in the effects of oxytocin and vasopressin on social behaviors. Additionally, it discusses the translational implications of oxytocin and vasopressin for improving social functioning in disorders such as autism spectrum disorder.
Article
Neurosciences
Richard J. Ortiz, Amy E. Wagler, Jason R. Yee, Praveen P. Kulkarni, Xuezhu Cai, Craig F. Ferris, Bruce S. Cushing
Summary: This study aims to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying prosocial and aggressive behaviors in males, as well as the relationship between neural connectivity and behavioral differences. The findings suggest that prosocial behavior is associated with specific brain connections and levels of global and intracore connectivity.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY-COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jack H. Taylor, James C. Walton, Katharine E. McCann, Alisa Norvelle, Qian Liu, Jacob W. Vander Velden, Johnathan M. Borland, Michael Hart, Chengliu Jin, Kim L. Huhman, Daniel N. Cox, H. Elliott Albers
Summary: Arginine-vasopressin and its V1a receptor play a critical role in regulating social behavior neural network. Gene edited hamsters with Avpr1a knockout showed unexpected increase in social communication behavior and elimination of gender differences in aggression towards conspecifics.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Laura R. LaBarge, Andrew T. L. Allan, Carol M. Berman, Russell A. Hill, Susan W. Margulis
Summary: Early detection plays a crucial role in a prey’s survival when facing ambush predators. While social prey benefit from cues provided by conspecifics, individuals who do not detect a threat are still at risk of attack. Factors such as habitat visibility, scanning behavior, and group spatial cohesion varied in importance depending on the predator species encountered, indicating that the effectiveness of risk-sensitive strategies in social animals is contingent upon the type of threat.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jorge F. Henriques, Mariangeles Lacava, Celeste Guzman, Maria Pilar Gavin-Centol, Dolores Ruiz-Lupion, Alberto Ruiz, Carmen Viera, Jordi Moya-Larano, Sara Magalhaes
Summary: In cannibalistic species, individuals may use conspecific cues to modulate their behavior to avoid being eaten or competition. The genetic variation in response to conspecific cues was found only for occupancy time. The environmental and genetic trait variation in social partners may maintain trait diversity in focal individuals, even in the absence of direct genetic variation.
AMERICAN NATURALIST
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Angela R. Freeman, Michael J. Sheehan, Alexander G. Ophir
Article
Neurosciences
Angela R. Freeman, James F. Hare, Heather K. Caldwell
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Angela R. Freeman, Thomas J. Wood, Kevin R. Bairos-Novak, W. Gary Anderson, James F. Hare
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Elizabeth A. Aulino, Heather K. Caldwell
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Angela R. Freeman, Elizabeth A. Aulino, Heather K. Caldwell, Alexander G. Ophir
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Angela R. Freeman, Alexander G. Ophir, Michael J. Sheehan
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Angela R. Freeman, James F. Hare, Heather K. Caldwell
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2020)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Karla M. Rodriguez, Brittany L. Smith, Heather K. Caldwell
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2020)
Article
Zoology
Angela R. Freeman
Summary: Female-female reproductive suppression is a common phenomenon observed in various mammals, where breeding females benefit from reducing competition by suppressing others. Neuroendocrinological changes during suppression lead to altered behavior, reproductive cycling, and communication. Research on this topic is mainly focused on rodents, exploring theoretical frameworks and mechanisms of suppression.
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Angela R. Freeman, Alexander G. Ophir
Summary: Research has shown that females have a greater ability to recognize and discriminate among individuals, particularly males, while males tend to be less responsive. Additionally, females prefer to investigate novel males, whereas males do not distinguish between familiar and novel reproductively available females.
Article
Zoology
Chelsea N. Cook, Angela R. Freeman, James C. Liao, Lisa A. Mangiamele
Summary: Individual variation in morphology, physiology, and behavior has always been an important research topic in the field of biological sciences. However, in the past, rare events or outlier observations in experiments were often ignored, which hindered our understanding of biology. It is necessary to change our perspective on outliers and explore their potential in improving our understanding of variation and evolution.
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Beverly Lo, Angela R. Freeman, Bhupinder Singh, Amit Hanadari-Levy, Jacquelyn Berman, Alexandra Chaves, Aumena Choudhry, Alexander G. Ophir
Summary: In general, males should pay attention to cues of sexual availability from females, while females should advertise accordingly. The vaginal patency of the southern giant pouched rat is a flexible reproductive state and is not affected by GnRH hormonal cascades. However, behavioral receptivity, but not vaginal patency, is impacted by GnRH hormonal cascades in this species.
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Heather K. Caldwell
CURRENT OPINION IN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
(2018)