Neuroendocrinology of social information processing in rats and mice.
We reviewed oxytocin (OT), arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and gonadal hormone involvement in various modes of social information processing in mice and rats. Gonadal hormones regulate OT and AVP mediation of social recognition and social learning. Estrogens foster OT-mediated social recognition and the recognition and avoidance of parasitized conspecifics via estrogen receptor (ER) alpha (ERalpha) and ERbeta. Testosterone and its metabolites, including estrogens, regulate social recognition in males predominantly via the AVP V1a receptor. Both OT and AVP are involved in the social transmission of food preferences and ERalpha has inhibitory, while ERbeta has enhancing, roles. OT also enhances mate copying by females. ERalpha mediates the sexual, and ERbeta the recognition, aspects of the risk-taking enhancing effects of females on males. Thus, androgens and estrogens control social information processing by regulating OT and AVP. This control is finely tuned for different forms of social information processing.
Choleris
Elena
E
Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1. Electronic address: echoleri@uoguelph.ca.
Clipperton-Allen
Amy E
AE
Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.
Phan
Anna
A
Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.
Kavaliers
Martin
M
Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C2.
D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000378:metabolism*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D012919:Social Behavior
D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D010121:Oxytocin