Neuronal activation in the caudal brainstem associated with mating by voles.
The expression of c-fos, a marker of neuronal activation, was examined in the gracile nucleus (GN) and nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) after social interactions, including mating, between male and female prairie voles. In GN, mating, but not non-sexual interactions, induced similar significant increases in c-fos immunoreactivity in both males and females. The increased immunoreactivity was concentrated in medial and dorsal GN suggesting that expression was driven by stimulation of reproductive organs. In contrast, in NTS, mating-induced increases in c-fos expression occurred only in males. These results suggest that both GN and NTS comprise different functional components of mating circuitry and may contribute to pair bonding in monogamous voles.
Curtis
J Thomas
JT
Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, 32306-1270, Tallahassee, FL, USA. tcurtis@psy.fsu.edu
Berkley
Karen J
KJ
Wang
Zuo Xin
ZX
D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000502:physiology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007120:Immunochemistry; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D035781:Siblings
D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos