A dedicated hypothalamic oxytocin circuit controls aversive social learning.
Nature
; 626(7998): 347-356, 2024 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38267576
ABSTRACT
To survive in a complex social group, one needs to know who to approach and, more importantly, who to avoid. In mice, a single defeat causes the losing mouse to stay away from the winner for weeks1. Here through a series of functional manipulation and recording experiments, we identify oxytocin neurons in the retrochiasmatic supraoptic nucleus (SOROXT) and oxytocin-receptor-expressing cells in the anterior subdivision of the ventromedial hypothalamus, ventrolateral part (aVMHvlOXTR) as a key circuit motif for defeat-induced social avoidance. Before defeat, aVMHvlOXTR cells minimally respond to aggressor cues. During defeat, aVMHvlOXTR cells are highly activated and, with the help of an exclusive oxytocin supply from the SOR, potentiate their responses to aggressor cues. After defeat, strong aggressor-induced aVMHvlOXTR cell activation drives the animal to avoid the aggressor and minimizes future defeat. Our study uncovers a neural process that supports rapid social learning caused by defeat and highlights the importance of the brain oxytocin system in social plasticity.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Aprendizagem da Esquiva
/
Ocitocina
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Agressão
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Aprendizado Social
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Hipotálamo
/
Vias Neurais
/
Neurônios
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Nature
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos