Knockdown of sexually differentiated vasopressin expression in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis reduces social and sexual behaviour in male, but not female, mice

The neuropeptide arginine‐vasopressin (AVP) has long been implicated in the regulation of social behaviour and communication, but the sources of AVP release relevant for behaviour have not been precisely determined. Ablations of the sexually dimorphic AVP cells within the bed nucleus of the stria te...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neuroendocrinology 2022-09, Vol.34 (9), p.e13083-n/a
Main Authors: Rigney, Nicole, Zbib, Adam, Vries, Geert J., Petrulis, Aras
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Anxiety
Arginine - metabolism
Arginine Vasopressin - genetics
Arginine Vasopressin - metabolism
Argipressin
bed nucleus of the stria terminalis
Behavior
Copulation
Female
Females
Gene expression
Male
Males
Mice
Original
RNA, Small Interfering - metabolism
Scent marking behavior
Septal Nuclei - metabolism
sex differences
Sexual behavior
Sexual dimorphism
Social behavior
social behaviour
Stria terminalis
Vasopressin
Vasopressins - genetics
Vasopressins - metabolism
Vocalization behavior
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The neuropeptide arginine‐vasopressin (AVP) has long been implicated in the regulation of social behaviour and communication, but the sources of AVP release relevant for behaviour have not been precisely determined. Ablations of the sexually dimorphic AVP cells within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), which are more numerous in males, affect social behaviour differently in males and females. However, it is unknown whether these behavioural effects are caused by a reduction of AVP or of other factors associated with these cells. To test the role of AVP specifically, we used an shRNA viral construct to knock down AVP gene expression within the BNST of wild‐type male and female mice, using scrambled sequence virus as a control, and evaluated subsequent changes in social behaviours (social investigation, ultrasonic vocalization (USV), scent marking, copulation, and aggression), or anxiety‐like behaviours (elevated plus maze). We observed that, in males, knockdown of AVP expression in the BNST strongly reduced investigation of novel males, aggressive signalling towards other males (tail rattling, USV), and copulatory behaviour, but did not alter attack initiation, other measures of social communication, or anxiety‐like behaviours. In females, however, BNST AVP knockdown did not alter any of these behaviours. These results point to differential involvement of AVP derived from the BNST in social behaviour. Several studies point at a sexually differentiated role of vasopressin (AVP) in social behaviour, but precisely which AVP sources are involved is not fully understood. BNST AVP knockdown in male, but not female, mice reduced social approach and communicative behaviors directed toward same‐sex conspecifics, without changing offensive attacks, anxiety‐related behaviors, and overall activity. BNST AVP knockdown also reduced male, but not female, sexual behaviour. AVP in the BNST contributes to sex differences in social behavior and its regulation.
ISSN:0953-8194
1365-2826
DOI:10.1111/jne.13083