Neonatal exposure to the D1 agonist SKF38393 inhibits pair bonding in the adult prairie vole

Abstract

The monogamous prairie vole displays developmental sensitivity to early pharmacological manipulation in a number of species-typical social behaviors. The long-term consequences of altering the neonatal dopamine system are not well characterized. The present study examined whether early manipulation of the dopamine system, a known mediator of adult prairie vole social behavior, during neonatal development would affect adult aggressive and attachment behaviors. Eight-day-old pups were given a single treatment with either 1mg/kg SKF38393 (D1 agonist), quinpirole (D2 agonist), SCH23390 (D1 antagonist), eticlopride (D2 antagonist), or saline vehicle. As adults, subjects received tests for intrasexual aggression and partner preference. Activation of D1-like receptors in pups impaired partner preference formation but had no effect on aggression. Other neonatal treatments had no effect on their behavior as adults. To determine if D1 activation in pups induced changes in dopamine receptor expression, we performed autoradiography on striatal tissue from a second cohort of saline and SKF38393 treated animals. Although sex differences were observed, we found no treatment differences in D1 or D2 receptor binding in any striatal sub-region. This study shows that exposure to a single early pharmacological alteration of dopamine receptor activity may have long-term effects on the social behavior of prairie voles.

Serotonin 1A agonism decreases affiliative behavior in pair-bonded titi monkeys

“…This work indicates critical roles of multiple neurochemical systems in the regulation of behaviors associated with pair-bonding including oxytocin (Bales et al, 2007b; Keebaugh et al, 2015; Ross et al, 2009; Williams et al, 1994), vasopressin (Lim et al, 2004; Lim and Young, 2004; Pitkow et al, 2001), dopamine (Aragona and Wang, 2009; Hostetler et al, 2011; Resendez et al, 2016), and opioid systems (Burkett et al, 2011; Resendez et al, 2013; Resendez et al, 2016; Resendez et al, 2012). In contrast, no work to our knowledge has examined serotonergic involvement in pair-bonding in the prairie vole, and little work has examined serotonergic influences on social behavior more generally in this species.…”

Neurobiological mechanisms of social attachment and pair bonding

“…Consistent with this idea, early life stimulation of the melanocortin receptor (MCR) system, which interacts with neuropeptide and reward systems, facilitates pair bond formation in adulthood [49]. In contrast, selective D1R activation in neonates impairs adult bonding [50]. Intriguingly, chronic neonatal administration of intranasal OT at some doses was found to impair bonding in adult male prairie voles [51]; however, enhancing NAcc OTR expression in pre-pubertal females facilitates adult bonding [52], and early life paternal deprivation (a manipulation which likely reduces OT signaling) impairs bonding in adult prairie and mandarin voles [48,53].…”

D2 dopamine receptor activation induces female preference for male song in the monogamous zebra finch

“…In general, nonapeptides such as oxytocin and vasopressin are important for pair-bond formation in females and males, respectively (McGraw and Young, 2010). Activation of D2 dopamine receptors (D2Rs) in the nucleus accumbens can induce a partner preference in both males and females (Aragona et al, 2003;Liu and Wang, 2003), whereas D1 dopamine receptors (D1Rs) block partner formation and contribute to selective aggression (Aragona et al, 2003;Hostetler et al, 2011). Although much has been gleaned from prairie voles, the specific mechanisms by which DA and nonapeptides influence neural circuits that underlie partner preference are still unknown, in part because manipulation of specific neurons and receptors in the mesolimbic reward system and social behavior network is difficult.…”