Single nucleus RNA-seq data from the nucleus accumbens of female and male prairie voles
Relationships are shaped by reciprocal interaction and feedback between individuals, where one individual acts, and the other interprets their actions to respond in turn. As relationships mature, pairs share common goals, improve their ability to work together, and experience coordinated emotions. However, the neural underpinnings responsible for this unique, pair-specific experience remain largely unexplored. Here, we examined the transcriptional landscape of the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a brain region extensively implicated in social bonding, in socially monogamous prairie voles in long-term peer or mating-based relationships. We show cell type-specific transcriptional differences between relationship types, as well as pair-wise transcription-based synchrony that exists at the level of individual cells regardless of relationship type. We found that, compared to peer-paired females, mate-paired females have a higher proportion of dopamine receptor D1 neurons expressing prodynorphin (Pdyn) and dopamine receptor D2 neurons expressing proenkephalin (Penk), but lower expression of gene modules related to microglial activation and neuron development. Using gene module analysis, support vector machines, and bootstrapped gene correlations, we also show that, regardless of relationship type, prairie voles exhibit transcription-based synchrony with their partner. Together, our results demonstrate that relationship type and a pair-specific social environment both shape the transcriptional landscape in the NAc. Our work reveals the emergent cellular properties of social bonds, providing a potential biological mechanism by which shared social experience reinforces and strengthens relationships. Overall design: Female and male prairie voles were paired with a novel peer (same-sex) or mate (opposite-sex) partner for 16 days prior to sacrifice. Brain tissue was frozen at -80C and later the nucleus accumbens was dissected from each brain separately. Nuclei were dissociated from each animal separately; therefore, each sample is from one animal.