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Juvenile social experience regulates central neuropeptides relevant to emotional and social behaviors

K Tanaka1, Y Osako, K Yuri

  • 1Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Kochi Medical School, Kohasu, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi, Japan.

Neuroscience
|January 26, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Early social isolation in rats impacts brain development, decreasing arginine vasopressin (AVP) cells in males and oxytocin (OXT) cells in females. This affects social recognition and anxiety-like behaviors.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Early-life stress and neglect are linked to neuropsychiatric disorders.
  • Social isolation can alter peripheral arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) levels.
  • The impact of social isolation on central AVP and OXT systems during development is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of post-weaning social isolation on central AVP and OXT systems in rats.
  • To examine the relationship between social isolation, neuronal changes, and behavioral outcomes.
  • To determine if social isolation affects the development of AVP and OXT systems and related behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Rats were weaned and then either group-reared or isolation-reared for at least two weeks.
  • Immunohistochemistry was used to quantify AVP- and OXT-immunoreactive (ir) cells in the paraventricular nucleus (PVH) of the hypothalamus.
  • Behavioral tests, including the elevated plus-maze and social recognition test, were conducted.

Main Results:

  • Social isolation led to a decrease in AVP-ir cells in the PVH of male rats.
  • Social isolation resulted in a decrease in OXT-ir cells in the PVH of female rats.
  • Isolation-reared rats exhibited deficits in social recognition, and males showed anxiogenic behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Post-weaning social isolation adversely affects the development of central AVP and OXT systems in a sex-specific manner.
  • Juvenile social environment plays a critical role in the neurodevelopment of AVP and OXT systems.
  • Social isolation during development can lead to lasting behavioral changes, including impaired social recognition and anxiety.

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