Female gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRP-R)-deficient mice exhibit altered social preference for male conspecifics: implications for GRP/GRP-R modulation of GABAergic function.
We studied female GRP-R-deficient mice with respect to olfactory function and social behavior toward male conspecifics. Results of a food exploration test (hidden cookie method) revealed that the olfactory ability of these mutant mice is identical to that of wild-type mice. However, when preference toward either a socially dominant or subordinate male mouse was assessed in a social preference test, wild-type mice showed a greater preference for socially dominant males than did GRP-R-deficient mice. In contrast, in a social investigation test to an anesthetized male mouse, GRP-R-deficient mice exhibited greater investigatory behavior toward the target male than did wild-type mice. When female C57BL/6J mice were given diazepam (0, 1, 2 or 4 mg/kg, i.p.), their investigatory behavior to the anesthetized male target was increased in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, i.p. administration of bicuculline (1 mg/kg) significantly decreased the social investigatory behavior of female GRP-R-deficient mice, but not of wild-type mice. These results indicate that female GRP-R-deficient mice exhibit altered responsiveness to male conspecifics relative to their wild-type counterparts, and suggest that this outcome may be attributable, at least in part, to altered GABAergic function in these mutant mice.
Yamada
K
K
Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira-City, 187-8502, Tokyo, Japan. yamada@ncnp.go.jp
Wada
E
E
Wada
K
K
D000758:Anesthesia; D000818:Animals; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D012928:Social Desirability; D012930:Social Dominance; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
D018756:GABA Antagonists; D018757:GABA Modulators; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; D003975:Diazepam; D001640:Bicuculline