title: Arginine vasotocin regulates social ascent in the African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni.
abstract: Neuropeptides modulate many aspects of behavior and physiology in a broad range of animals. Arginine vasotocin (AVT) is implicated in mediating social behavior in teleost fish, although its specific role varies between species, sexes, life stages, and social context. To investigate whether the effects of AVT on behavior depend on social context, we used the African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni, which is well-known for its remarkable behavioral plasticity. We pharmacologically manipulated the AVT system in established socially dominant and subordinate A. burtoni males, as well as in males ascending to dominance status in a socially unstable environment. Our results show that exogenous AVT causes a stress response, as evidenced by reduced behavioral activity and increased circulating levels of cortisol in established dominant and subordinate males. Administration of the AVT antagonist Manning compound, on the other hand, did not affect established subordinate or dominant males. However, AVT antagonist-treated males ascending from subordinate to dominant status exhibited reduced aggressive and increased courtship behavior compared to vehicle-treated animals. Finally, we measured circulating cortisol levels and brain gene expression levels of AVT and its behaviorally relevant V1a2 receptor in all three social phenotypes and found that plasma cortisol and mRNA levels of both genes were increased in ascending males compared to dominant and subordinate males. Our results provide a more detailed understanding of the role of the AVT system in the regulation of complex behavior in a dynamically changing social environment.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Integrative Biology, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Brain, Behavior, and Evolution, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Lin S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Huffman
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Integrative Biology, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Brain, Behavior, and Evolution, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Flora I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Hinz
authors.affiliation: Université de Montréal, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Montréal, Québec H2V 2S9, Canada.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wojcik
authors.affiliation: Université de Montréal, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Montréal, Québec H2V 2S9, Canada; Université Laval, Département de Biologie & Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aubin-Horth
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Integrative Biology, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Brain, Behavior, and Evolution, Austin, TX 78712, USA. Electronic address: hans@utexas.edu.
authors.forename: Hans A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hofmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D023681:Cichlids / Q000502:physiology*; D004291:Dominance-Subordination; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014668:Vasotocin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014668:Vasotocin; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Aggression; Manning compound; Nonapeptides; Plasticity; Social dominance