Article
Biology
Connor T. Lambert, James B. Lichter, Adam N. Perry, Samuel A. Castillo, Brian Keane, Bruce S. Cushing, Nancy G. Solomon
Summary: The formation of long-term pair-bonds involves multiple neural circuits and is context-dependent, with inhibition of oestrogen receptor alpha in the medial amygdala of male prairie voles shown to significantly increase social monogamy expression in the field.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Florian Duclot, Yan Liu, Samantha K. Saland, Zuoxin Wang, Mohamed Kabbaj
Summary: This study examined the gene expression associated with paternal behaviors in male prairie voles, with a focus on the lateral septum (LS) and nucleus accumbens (NAc), revealing structure- and phenotype-specific differences between paternal and aggressive behaviors. The findings highlight the LS transcriptome related to mitochondria, RNA translation, and protein degradation processes as key factors associated with spontaneous paternal behaviors, providing insight into the molecular underpinnings of paternal behavior in socially monogamous species.
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Keerthi Thirtamara Rajamani, Hala Harony-Nicolas
Summary: Traditionally, the oxytocin receptor has been believed to play a crucial role in social bonding and parenting in prairie voles. However, this study shows that oxytocin receptor-null prairie voles exhibit normal bonding and parental behaviors, challenging the prevailing understanding of the receptor's role in these behaviors.
Article
Neurosciences
Kristen M. Berendzen, Ruchira Sharma, Maricruz Alvarado Mandujano, Yichao Wei, Forrest D. Rogers, Trenton C. Simmons, Adele M. H. Seelke, Jessica M. Bond, Rose Larios, Nastacia L. Goodwin, Michael Sherman, Srinivas Parthasarthy, Isidero Espineda, Joseph R. Knoedler, Annaliese Berry, Karen L. Bales, Nirao M. Shah, Devanand S. Manoli
Summary: Prairie voles, a species known for long-term social attachment between mating partners, were studied using CRISPR mutagenesis. Three different Oxtr-null mutant prairie vole lines were generated, and surprisingly, these mutants still displayed social attachment towards their mating partners compared to strangers of the opposite sex. Additionally, even without Oxtr signaling, Oxtr mutant mothers delivered viable pups and parents displayed parental care. This suggests that social attachment, parturition, and parental behavior can occur in prairie voles in the absence of Oxtr signaling.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Amelie M. Borie, Sena Agezo, Parker Lunsford, Arjen J. Boender, Ji-Dong Guo, Hong Zhu, Gordon J. Berman, Larry J. Young, Robert C. Liu
Summary: This study examines the role of oxytocin in the nucleus accumbens during pair bonding in prairie voles. The researchers found that oxytocin's actions change with social experience, regulating the trajectory of social interactions and potentially promoting the maintenance of a pair bond by inhibiting aggressive responses.
Article
Neurosciences
Kyle R. Gossman, Benjamin Dykstra, Byron H. Garcia, Arielle P. Swopes, Adam Kimbrough, Adam S. Smith
Summary: This study assessed the organization and functional connectivity models of the social decision-making network (SDMN) using c-Fos in prairie voles during specific social interactions. The results showed distinct patterns of c-Fos activity in different brain regions during social encounters, leading to the formation of discrete network modules. The partner functional connectivity network resembled the theoretical SDMN model, while stranger networks demonstrated different architecture with connections associated with threat and aggressive behaviors.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Sheena Potretzke, Yangmiao Zhang, Ju Li, Kristopher M. Fecteau, David W. Erikson, Marcel Hibert, Andrey E. Ryabinin
Summary: This study examined the behavioral and molecular effects of targeting the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) in prairie voles for the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD). The results showed that intranasal administration of oxytocin selectively inhibited alcohol drinking in male prairie voles and that exogenous oxytocin penetrated the prairie vole brain. In addition, a small-molecule OXTR agonist was found to inhibit alcohol intake in male prairie voles. These findings support the potential of selectively targeting OXTR for individualized treatment of AUD.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Meghan L. Donovan, Eileen K. Chun, Yan Liu, Zuoxin Wang
Summary: This study examines the impacts of adolescent social isolation on the brain, immune system, and behavior in socially monogamous prairie voles. The results show that social isolation can lead to alterations in the brain and behavior, with a potential role for the immune system in these changes.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Tobias T. Pohl, Oona Jung, Barbara Di Benedetto, Larry J. Young, Oliver J. Bosch
Summary: Positive social relationships are crucial for the survival and well-being of mammals, while impaired relationships or the loss of a bonded partner can have negative effects on physical and mental health. Research on prairie voles indicates that partner loss increases passive stress-coping in male voles and leads to microglial activation in specific brain regions, suggesting potential sex-dependent mechanisms for regulating responses to partner loss.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marissa A. Rice, Sydney M. Galindez, Joshua T. Garner, Alexander G. Ophir
Summary: In socially monogamous female prairie voles, the unequal gender ratio influences mixed paternity and overall reproductive success, with female fecundity correlated with the number of male partners. The study found that when males outnumbered females, females had more offspring from multiple fathers; similarly, when females outnumbered males, females still had more offspring from multiple fathers, but the total number of embryos did not differ significantly.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kota Kitano, Atsuhito Yamagishi, Kengo Horie, Katsuhiko Nishimori, Nobuya Sato
Summary: Studies show that prairie voles display empathic responses and helping behavior by opening a door to assist conspecifics soaked in water. The distress of the conspecific is necessary for learning the door-opening behavior, and oxytocin plays a crucial role in the emergence of helping behavior.
Article
Neurosciences
Luanne H. Hale, Maria C. Tickerhoof, Adam S. Smith
Summary: This study investigated the effects of chronic oxytocin (OXT) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment on social defeat stress in male and female socially monogamous prairie voles. Results showed that chronic intranasal OXT treatment had a negative impact on sociability in non-defeated females but promoted social engagement in defeated females. Moreover, SSRI treatment had only modest effects on social behaviors compared to OXT.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marissa A. Rice, Sydney M. Galindez, Joshua T. Garner, Alexander G. Ophir
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between female mating tactics and different sex ratios in prairie voles. The results show that social context does not directly influence female mating decisions, but multi-male mating in females may lead to increased fertilization success under semi-natural conditions.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel A. Nuccio, Marigny C. Normann, Haiming Zhou, Angela J. Grippo, Pallavi Singh
Summary: Social isolation has detrimental effects on the health of social mammals, causing changes in neurochemicals and hormones related to depression and anxiety, as well as impairments in cardiovascular and immune functioning. Similarly, perceptions of loneliness negatively impact human psychological well-being, cognitive functioning, and physical health. However, there are limited studies on the impact of social isolation on the intestinal microbiome and metabolome.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Analia E. Castro, Raymundo Dominguez-Ordonez, Larry J. Young, Francisco J. Camacho, Daniela Avila-Gonzalez, Raul G. Paredes, Nestor F. Diaz, Wendy Portillo
Summary: This study found that cohabitation with mating and social exposure can affect the survival and fate of new cells in the olfactory bulbs and dentate gyrus of prairie voles. These findings contribute to our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying complex social behaviors and pair bond formation in prairie voles.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
William M. Kenkel, Jason R. Yee, Stephen W. Porges, Craig F. Ferris, C. Sue Carter
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2015)
Article
Immunology
M. MacRae, W. M. Kenkel, A. C. Kentner
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2015)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ivana Schoepf, Wiliam Kenkel, Carsten Schradin
JOURNAL OF ETHOLOGY
(2015)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Adam Michael Stewart, Gregory F. Lewis, Jason R. Yee, William M. Kenkel, Maria I. Davila, C. Sue Carter, Stephen W. Porges
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2015)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
William M. Kenkel, C. Sue Carter
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2016)
Article
Developmental Biology
William M. Kenkel, Allison M. Perkeybile, C. Sue Carter
DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Dan Madularu, Praveen Kulkarni, Jason R. Yee, William M. Kenkel, Waqqas M. Shams, Craig F. Ferris, Wayne G. Brake
HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
(2016)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jason R. Yee, William M. Kenkel, Jessie L. Frijling, Sonam Dodhia, Kenneth G. Onishi, Santiago Tovar, Maha J. Saber, Gregory F. Lewis, Wensheng Liu, Stephen W. Porges, C. Sue Carter
HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
(2016)
Article
Neurosciences
J. R. Yee, W. M. Kenkel, P. Kulkarni, K. Moore, A. M. Perkeybile, S. Toddes, J. A. Amacker, C. S. Carter, C. F. Ferris
Article
Psychiatry
W. M. Kenkel, J. R. Yee, K. Moore, D. Madularu, P. Kulkarni, K. Gamber, M. Nedelman, C. F. Ferris
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2016)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
E. R. Glasper, W. M. Kenkel, J. Bick, J. K. Rilling
FRONTIERS IN NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
W. M. Kenkel, A. -M. Perkeybile, J. R. Yee, H. Pournajafi-Nazarloo, T. S. Lillard, E. F. Ferguson, K. L. Wroblewski, C. F. Ferris, C. S. Carter, J. J. Connelly
Article
Developmental Biology
Christopher Harshaw, Sayuri Kojima, Cara L. Wellman, Gregory E. Demas, Ardythe L. Morrow, Diana Hazard Taft, William M. Kenkel, Joseph K. Leffel, Jeffrey R. Alberts
Summary: Maternal antibiotic exposure can disrupt the transfer of microbiota from mother to offspring, potentially leading to dysbiosis relevant to autism spectrum disorder. In a mouse model, offspring of ABx-treated dams showed behavioral differences and these differences could be related to thermoregulatory deficiencies.
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Psychology, Clinical
Will Kenkel
ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
William Kenkel
Summary: Rates of delivery by caesarean section are increasing globally, with various epidemiological associations between CS and later health outcomes requiring further research. Differences in hormonal experiences at birth may contribute to the neurodevelopmental consequences of CS delivery, highlighting the need for attention in this area.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)