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.
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
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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