Encoding of social novelty by sparse GABAergic neural ensembles in the prelimbic cortex

Although the prelimbic (PrL) area is associated with social behaviors, the neural ensembles that regulate social preference toward novelty or familiarity remain unknown. Using miniature two-photon microscopy (mTPM) to visualize social behavior-associated neuronal activity within the PrL in freely behaving mice, we found that the Ca²⁺ transients of GABAergic neurons were more highly correlated with social behaviors than those of glutamatergic neurons. Chemogenetic suppression of social behavior-activated GABAergic neurons in the PrL disrupts social novelty behaviors. Restoring the MeCP2 level in PrL GABAergic neurons in MECP2 transgenic (MECP2-TG) mice rescues the social novelty deficits. Moreover, we identified and characterized sparsely distributed NewPNs and OldPNs of GABAergic interneurons in the PrL preferentially responsible for new and old mouse exploration, respectively. Together, we propose that social novelty information may be encoded by the responses of NewPNs and OldPNs in the PrL area, possibly via synergistic actions on both sides of the seesaw.