This project will investigate the neural and endocrine mechanisms that control social behavior in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). There is a substantial body of evidence that the actions of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) within a zone that extends from the medial preoptic area to the anterior hypothalamus (referred to as the MPOA-AH) plays a critical role in the expression of a form of scent marking called flank marking as well as aggression. Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms controlling social behaviors like flank marking and aggression requires definition of the neural/hormonal mechanisms that control these behaviors as well as how experience changes these mechanisms so that these behaviors are continuously adjusted to the changing environment. The proposed experiments will test the working hypothesis that experience alters the expression of flank marking and aggression by its effects on AVP receptors within the MPOA-AH. This hypothesis will be tested by examining the effects of two types of experience that have significant, yet very different effects on scent marking and aggression. First, we will determine whether social experience (i.e. prior agonistic encounters) alters these receptors and will test the prediction that a testosterone-dependent as well as a testosterone-independent mechanism mediates these effects. Second, we will determine whether environmental experience (i.e. exposure to winter-like short photoperiods) alters these receptors and will test the prediction that a testosterone-independent mechanism mediates these effects. We believe that analysis of the effects of such different types of experience on these AVP receptors will provide a rigorous initial test of our hypothesis that these receptors represent a critical regulatory site in the control of scent marking and aggression. These data should provide new insights into the basic principles that govern how neural and endocrine mechanisms control complex social behaviors. This information is critically important for understanding the etiology of a variety of behavioral and emotional disorders as well as the development of new treatments for these disorders.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH062641-02
Application #
6539206
Study Section
Integrative, Functional and Cognitive Neuroscience 8 (IFCN)
Program Officer
Lyon, Reid G
Project Start
2001-07-01
Project End
2006-06-30
Budget Start
2002-07-01
Budget End
2003-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$250,250
Indirect Cost
Name
Georgia State University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
837322494
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30302
Albers, H Elliott (2015) Species, sex and individual differences in the vasotocin/vasopressin system: relationship to neurochemical signaling in the social behavior neural network. Front Neuroendocrinol 36:49-71
Gutzler, Stephanie J; Karom, Mary; Erwin, W D et al. (2010) Arginine-vasopressin and the regulation of aggression in female Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Eur J Neurosci 31:1655-63
Gutzler, Stephanie J; Karom, Mary; Erwin, W Daniel et al. (2009) Photoperiodic regulation of adrenal hormone secretion and aggression in female Syrian hamsters. Horm Behav 56:481-9
Caldwell, Heather K; Smith, Debra A; Albers, H Elliott (2008) Photoperiodic mechanisms controlling scent marking: interactions of vasopressin and gonadal steroids. Eur J Neurosci 27:1189-96
Schulz, Kalynn M; Menard, Tami A; Smith, Debra A et al. (2006) Testicular hormone exposure during adolescence organizes flank-marking behavior and vasopressin receptor binding in the lateral septum. Horm Behav 50:477-83
Albers, H Elliott; Dean, Albert; Karom, Mary C et al. (2006) Role of V1a vasopressin receptors in the control of aggression in Syrian hamsters. Brain Res 1073-1074:425-30
Cooper, Matthew A; Karom, Mary; Huhman, Kim L et al. (2005) Repeated agonistic encounters in hamsters modulate AVP V1a receptor binding. Horm Behav 48:545-51
Ehlen, J Christopher; Albers, H Elliott; Breyer, Emelita D (2005) MEKC-LIF of gamma-amino butyric acid in microdialysate: systematic optimization of the separation conditions by factorial analysis. J Neurosci Methods 147:36-47
Caldwell, Heather K; Albers, H Elliott (2004) Photoperiodic regulation of vasopressin receptor binding in female Syrian hamsters. Brain Res 1002:136-41
Caldwell, Heather K; Albers, H Elliott (2004) Effect of photoperiod on vasopressin-induced aggression in Syrian hamsters. Horm Behav 46:444-9

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