title: Neonatal paternal deprivation impairs social recognition and alters levels of oxytocin and estrogen receptor α mRNA expression in the MeA and NAcc, and serum oxytocin in mandarin voles.
abstract: Paternal care is necessary for the healthy development of social behavior in monogamous rodents and social recognition underpins social behavior in these animals. The effects of paternal care on the development of social recognition and underlying neuroendocrine mechanisms, especially the involvement of oxytocin and estrogen pathways, remain poorly understood. We investigated the effects of paternal deprivation (PD: father was removed from neonatal pups and mother alone raised the offspring) on social recognition in mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus), a socially monogamous rodent. Paternal deprivation was found to inhibit the development of social recognition in female and male offspring according to a habituation-dishabituation paradigm. Paternal deprivation resulted in increased inactivity and reduced investigation during new encounters with other animals. Paternal deprivation reduced oxytocin receptor (OTR) and estrogen receptor α (ERα) mRNA expression in the medial amygdala and nucleus accumbens. Paternal deprivation reduced serum oxytocin (OT) concentration in females, but had no effect on males. Our results provide substantial evidence that paternal deprivation inhibits the development of social recognition in female and male mandarin voles and alters social behavior later in life. This is possibly the result of altered expression of central OTR and ERα and serum OT levels caused by paternal deprivation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China.
authors.forename: Ruiyong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China. Electronic address: taifadao@snnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Fadao
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 7K4, Canada.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China.
authors.forename: Xiaolei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China.
authors.forename: Xufeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hao
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000679:Amygdala / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010333:Paternal Deprivation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: Estrogen receptor α; Mandarin vole (Microtus mandarinus); Medial amygdala; Nucleus accumbens; Oxytocin receptor; Paternal deprivation; Social recognition