In addition to the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus (DG) and the anterior portion of the subventricular zone (SVZ) , newly proliferated cells are found in other brain areas, including the amygdala--an area implicated in many physiological and behavioral functions. In our recent study in female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), cells labeled by a proliferation marker, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), were found in the amygdala, and male exposure and mating induced an enduring increase in the number of BrdU labeled cells in the amygdala. As male exposure and mating induce social attachment between female and male prairie voles, and the amygdala is important for the social attachment formation, we hypothesize that the stimuli associated with male exposure increase the number of newly proliferated cells in the amygdala, which, in turn, play a functional role in social attachment formation in female prairie voles. To test this hypothesis, we first study the effects of stimuli associated with male-exposure, such as an increased level of estrogen and mating behavior, on cell proliferation and cell death in the amygdala of female prairie voles. Thereafter, we treat animals with an anti-mitotic drug in general or site-specifically into the amygdala to examine the effects on cell proliferation and social attachment. These data will not only broaden our understanding of the functional significance of newly proliferated cells in general, but also provide valuable information regarding involvement of new cells of the amygdala in social attachment formation in particular.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21MH066734-01
Application #
6554557
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZMH1-BRB-S (01))
Program Officer
Wagster, Molly V
Project Start
2002-08-16
Project End
2004-07-31
Budget Start
2002-08-16
Budget End
2003-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$182,500
Indirect Cost
Name
Florida State University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
020520466
City
Tallahassee
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32306
Fowler, Christie D; Liu, Yan; Wang, Zuoxin (2008) Estrogen and adult neurogenesis in the amygdala and hypothalamus. Brain Res Rev 57:342-51
Aragona, Brandon J; Liu, Yan; Yu, Y Joy et al. (2006) Nucleus accumbens dopamine differentially mediates the formation and maintenance of monogamous pair bonds. Nat Neurosci 9:133-9
Stowe, Jennifer R; Liu, Yan; Curtis, J Thomas et al. (2005) Species differences in anxiety-related responses in male prairie and meadow voles: the effects of social isolation. Physiol Behav 86:369-78
Curtis, J Thomas; Wang, Zuoxin (2005) Ventral tegmental area involvement in pair bonding in male prairie voles. Physiol Behav 86:338-46
Fowler, Christie D; Johnson, Frank; Wang, Zuoxin (2005) Estrogen regulation of cell proliferation and distribution of estrogen receptor-alpha in the brains of adult female prairie and meadow voles. J Comp Neurol 489:166-79
Curtis, J T; Wang, Z (2005) Glucocorticoid receptor involvement in pair bonding in female prairie voles: the effects of acute blockade and interactions with central dopamine reward systems. Neuroscience 134:369-76
Wang, Zuoxin; Aragona, Brandon J (2004) Neurochemical regulation of pair bonding in male prairie voles. Physiol Behav 83:319-28
Aragona, Brandon J; Wang, Zuoxin (2004) The prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster): an animal model for behavioral neuroendocrine research on pair bonding. ILAR J 45:35-45
Fowler, Christie D; Freeman, Marc E; Wang, Zuoxin (2003) Newly proliferated cells in the adult male amygdala are affected by gonadal steroid hormones. J Neurobiol 57:257-69
Liu, Y; Wang, Z X (2003) Nucleus accumbens oxytocin and dopamine interact to regulate pair bond formation in female prairie voles. Neuroscience 121:537-44

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