Social defeat-induced Cingulate gyrus immediate-early gene expression and anxiolytic-like effect depend upon social rank.

Social defeat-induced Cingulate gyrus immediate-early gene expression and anxiolytic-like effect depend upon social rank.
Brain Res Bull. 2018 Oct 18;:
Authors: Basil AH, Gross M, Rajkumar R, Kirby M, Pinhasov A, Gs D
Abstract
Social hierarchy is considered to impart an adaptive advantage to the species by reducing long-term conflict between conspecifics. While social stratification is frequently established via stress-inducing stimuli, the subsequent integration of individuals into the hierarchy may attenuate anxiety. Presently, we hypothesized that repeated reinforcement of murine social hierarchy in the dominant-submissive relationship (DSR) food-competition test would engender divergent neuroplastic changes mediating both social and anxiety-like behavior among selectively-bred Dominant (Dom) and Submissive (Sub) mice. Two weeks of repeated respective social victory or defeat reduced serum corticosterone levels of both Dom and Sub mice, whereas socially-defeated Sub mice demonstrated markedly greater exploration of the open arms of the elevated plus maze (EPM). At the same time, social victory led to markedly greater expression of the immediate-early genes (IEGs) c-Jun and EGR-1 in the lateral septal nucleus (LSN) among Dom mice, in contrast with defeated Sub counterparts which demonstrated four-fold greater IEG expression in the cingulate gyrus (Cg). These findings point towards involvement of the Cg in the anxiety-like effect am...

Source: Brain Research Bulletin - October 18, 2018 Category: Neurology Authors: Basil AH, Gross M, Rajkumar R, Kirby M, Pinhasov A, Gs D Tags: Brain Res Bull Source Type: research