Zeitschriftenartikel: „Prairie vole Prairie vole Social behavior in animals“

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Rabon Jr., David R., D. Kim Sawrey und Wm David Webster. „Infant ultrasonic vocalizations and parental responses in two species of voles (Microtus)“. Canadian Journal of Zoology 79, Nr. 5 (01.05.2001): 830–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z01-043.

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When separated from conspecifics, the young of many rodent species produce ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) that may facilitate parental approach. Ultrasounds were recorded from infants (014 days post partum) of two closely related species that exhibit different social systems, the montane vole (Microtus montanus) and the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). Infant prairie voles emitted a greater number of USVs when isolated from conspecifics than did infant montane voles. Infant prairie voles also emitted a greater number of USVs in the presence of a parent than did infant montane voles. For both species, parental responses to individual infants were most rapid when pups were at those ages when they emitted the greatest numbers of USVs. Prairie vole parents approached pups most rapidly on days 68, whereas montane vole parents approached pups most rapidly on days 1214. There were no differences between sires and dams of either species in their latencies to approach and contact pups. In general, however, infants of both species were retrieved more rapidly by dams than by sires. We suggest that differences in ultrasound production among vole species may correlate with differences in their species-specific social systems. It appears that the number of USVs produced by pups may vary with the amount of parent-pup contact typical of each species.

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Willett, Jaime A., Ashlyn G. Johnson, Andrea R. Vogel, Heather B. Patisaul, Lisa A. McGraw und John Meitzen. „Nucleus accumbens core medium spiny neuron electrophysiological properties and partner preference behavior in the adult male prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster“. Journal of Neurophysiology 119, Nr. 4 (01.04.2018): 1576–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.00737.2017.

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Medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the nucleus accumbens have long been implicated in the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie numerous social and motivated behaviors as studied in rodents such as rats. Recently, the prairie vole has emerged as an important model animal for studying social behaviors, particularly regarding monogamy because of its ability to form pair bonds. However, to our knowledge, no study has assessed intrinsic vole MSN electrophysiological properties or tested how these properties vary with the strength of the pair bond between partnered voles. Here we performed whole cell patch-clamp recordings of MSNs in acute brain slices of the nucleus accumbens core (NAc) of adult male voles exhibiting strong and weak preferences for their respective partnered females. We first document vole MSN electrophysiological properties and provide comparison to rat MSNs. Vole MSNs demonstrated many canonical electrophysiological attributes shared across species but exhibited notable differences in excitability compared with rat MSNs. Second, we assessed male vole partner preference behavior and tested whether MSN electrophysiological properties varied with partner preference strength. Male vole partner preference showed extensive variability. We found that decreases in miniature excitatory postsynaptic current amplitude and the slope of the evoked action potential firing rate to depolarizing current injection weakly associated with increased preference for the partnered female. This suggests that excitatory synaptic strength and neuronal excitability may be decreased in MSNs in males exhibiting stronger preference for a partnered female. Overall, these data provide extensive documentation of MSN electrophysiological characteristics and their relationship to social behavior in the prairie vole. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This research represents the first assessment of prairie vole nucleus accumbens core medium spiny neuron intrinsic electrophysiological properties and probes the relationship between cellular excitability and social behavior.

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Ferkin, Michael H. „Patterns of sexually distinct scents in Microtus spp.“ Canadian Journal of Zoology 79, Nr. 9 (01.09.2001): 1621–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z01-102.

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The sources of sexually discriminable scent were identified for montane voles, Microtus montanus, and compared with known sources in other species of voles. I tested two different hypotheses. The data support the hypothesis that each vole species has a unique number and pattern of sources of sexually distinct scent. The location, pattern, and number of these sources of scent on the integument may allow individuals to convey particular types of information to conspecifics. The data also support the hypothesis that the greater the number of sources of scent for signaling opposite-sex conspecifics, the greater the number of encounters that individuals within that species have with opposite-sex conspecifics. The montane vole, a semisocial species, has six sources of scent, which is intermediate between the numbers found in the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), an asocial species, and the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), a social species. The results suggest that the number, pattern, and locations of sexually distinct scents are positively associated with the frequency with which individuals encounter the scent marks of neighboring conspecifics.

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DeVries, A. Courtney, Camron L. Johnson und C. Sue Carter. „Familiarity and gender influence social preferences in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)“. Canadian Journal of Zoology 75, Nr. 2 (01.02.1997): 295–301. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z97-037.

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The physiological mechanisms influencing group cohesion and social preferences are largely unstudied in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). In nature, prairie vole family groups usually consist of an adult male and female breeding pair, one or more litters of their offspring, and occasionally unrelated adults. Pair bonds, defined by heterosexual preferences, develop in male and female prairie voles following cohabitation or mating. However, social preferences between members of the same sex also may be important to the maintenance of communal groups. In the present study we compared the development of social preferences for conspecific strangers of the same sex versus preferences for the opposite sex, and examined the effect of the gonadal status of the stimulus animal on initial social preference. The present study revealed that reproductively naive males, but not females, showed initial preferences for partners of the opposite sex. In both sexes preferences for the opposite sex were not influenced by the presence or absence of gonadal hormones. Heterosexual and same-sex preferences for a familiar individual formed following 24 h of nonsexual cohabitation in both males and females. Male and female same-sex preferences, however, were no longer stable when the stranger in the preference test was of the opposite sex to the experimental animal. The development of same-sex preferences may help to maintain group cohesion, but same-sex preferences formed by cohabitation do not withstand the challenge of an opposite-sex stranger.

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Getz, L. L., B. Mcguire und C. S. Carter. „Social behavior, reproduction and demography of the prairie vole,Microtus ochrogaster“. Ethology Ecology & Evolution 15, Nr. 2 (April 2003): 105–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08927014.2003.9522676.

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Kramer, Kristin M., Bruce S. Cushing, C. Sue Carter, Julie Wu und Mary Ann Ottinger. „Sex and species differences in plasma oxytocin using an enzyme immunoassay“. Canadian Journal of Zoology 82, Nr. 8 (01.08.2004): 1194–200. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z04-098.

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The neuropeptide hormone oxytocin (OT) is released peripherally and centrally and has been implicated in both physiology and behavior, especially sociosexual behaviors. Knowledge of OT levels in blood or other sources would be useful but these are rarely reported. Radioimmunoassay following extraction is the most commonly used method for measuring OT but is not ideal for use in small mammals in which blood volumes and concentrations of OT are low. Here we report a chemical and biological validation for a commercially available enzyme immunoassay for OT in unextracted plasma. In addition, comparisons of OT were made across species to allow comparison of the monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster (Wagner, 1842)) to the polygynous Sprague Dawley rat. These species were chosen because OT plays a role in the formation of social bonds and we predicted that the highly social prairie vole would have higher plasma OT than the less social rat. Results of this comparison confirmed our hypothesis. Further, OT was significantly higher in females than in males in both species. Our results indicate that this enzyme immunoassay can be used to assay plasma OT in rodents and that the predicted correlations exist between plasma OT and gender as well as species-typical social behavior.

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Sullivan, Alana W., Elsworth C. Beach, Lucas A. Stetzik, Amy Perry, Alyssa S. D'Addezio, Bruce S. Cushing und Heather B. Patisaul. „A Novel Model for Neuroendocrine Toxicology: Neurobehavioral Effects of BPA Exposure in a Prosocial Species, the Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster)“. Endocrinology 155, Nr. 10 (01.10.2014): 3867–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/en.2014-1379.

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Abstract Impacts on brain and behavior have been reported in laboratory rodents after developmental exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), raising concerns about possible human effects. Epidemiological data suggest links between prenatal BPA exposure and altered affective behaviors in children, but potential mechanisms are unclear. Disruption of mesolimbic oxytocin (OT)/vasopressin (AVP) pathways have been proposed, but supporting evidence is minimal. To address these data gaps, we employed a novel animal model for neuroendocrine toxicology: the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), which are more prosocial than lab rats or mice. Male and female prairie vole pups were orally exposed to 5-μg/kg body weight (bw)/d, 50-μg/kg bw/d, or 50-mg/kg bw/d BPA or vehicle over postnatal days 8–14. Subjects were tested as juveniles in open field and novel social tests and for partner preference as adults. Brains were then collected and assessed for immunoreactive (ir) tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) (a dopamine marker) neurons in the principal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (pBNST) and TH-ir, OT-ir, and AVP-ir neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Female open field activity indicated hyperactivity at the lowest dose and anxiety at the highest dose. Effects on social interactions were also observed, and partner preference formation was mildly inhibited at all dose levels. BPA masculinized principal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis TH-ir neuron numbers in females. Additionally, 50-mg/kg bw BPA-exposed females had more AVP-ir neurons in the anterior PVN and fewer OT-ir neurons in the posterior PVN. At the 2 lowest doses, BPA eliminated sex differences in PVN TH-ir neuron numbers and reversed this sex difference at the highest dose. Minimal behavioral effects were observed in BPA-exposed males. These data support the hypothesis that BPA alters affective behaviors, potentially via disruption of OT/AVP pathways.

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Lichter, James B., Connor T. Lambert, Nancy G. Solomon und Brian Keane. „Breeding patterns of female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) displaying alternative reproductive tactics“. Journal of Mammalogy 101, Nr. 4 (16.06.2020): 990–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyaa058.

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Abstract Individuals of either sex may display alternative behaviors to obtain copulations, but few studies have examined the breeding patterns of females and males in populations where individuals of both sexes exhibit alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs). In prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), most adults are territorial, residing at a single nest site either as male–female pairs or as solitary individuals. However, some adults adopt nonterritorial, wandering tactics. During two field seasons monitoring prairie vole populations maintained in seminatural enclosures, we found evidence that females exhibiting different ARTs bred differentially with resident and wandering males. Females residing at a nest with a male bred significantly more often with a paired resident male, primarily their social partner, and significantly less often with male wanderers compared to single resident females or wandering females. These patterns were not due to chance, because paired resident females produced offspring with paired resident males significantly more than expected based on the relative abundance of these males in the population, whereas single resident females produced offspring with male wanderers significantly more than expected based on the proportion of male wanderers in the population. We did not find any evidence that multiple paternity was greater in the litters of single resident females and wanderer females even though these females lacked a male social partner to limit mating access by multiple males. This suggests that mate guarding by a female’s male social partner was not the primary determinant of multiple paternity in the litters of females exhibiting different reproductive tactics. However, male ART did affect the likelihood of multiple paternity. Females that produced offspring with single resident or wanderer males had an increased likelihood of multiple paternity relative to females producing offspring with paired resident males. The results of this study show that female and male ARTs can affect breeding patterns.

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Lin, Y. Kirk, Loren D. Hayes und Nancy G. Solomon. „EFFECTS OF FEMALE IMMIGRANTS ON DEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF PRAIRIE VOLE (MICROTUS OCHROGASTER) POPULATIONS“. Journal of Mammalogy 85, Nr. 4 (August 2004): 781–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1644/bel-013.

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Roberts, R. Lucille, Amanda K. Miller, Susan E. Taymans und C. Sue Carter. „Role of social and endocrine factors in alloparental behavior of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)“. Canadian Journal of Zoology 76, Nr. 10 (01.10.1998): 1862–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z98-156.

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Young, sexually naive prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), 21-60 days of age, of both sexes readily exhibit alloparental behavior toward pups without apparent hormonal or experiential priming. The goal of the present study was to quantify the incidence of spontaneously evoked alloparental behavior in young prairie voles and determine prior pup experience (i), gender-related (ii) and age-related (iii) characteristics, and hormonal (iv) and housing (v) conditions associated with alloparental behavior. Overall, 70% of all prairie voles between 21 and 60 days of age exhibited alloparental behavior regardless of hormonal condition or postweaning housing condition (single versus sib-group housing). Experience with pups prior to weaning was associated with a greater percentage of prairie voles exhibiting alloparental responding in comparison with prairie voles that had never been exposed to pups. Male prairie voles were more likely to be alloparental than were females, although most females (64%) exhibited alloparental behavior. Differences in qualitative variables associated with alloparental responsiveness were present between prairie voles <40 days of age and those >=40 days of age, although both age groups responded parentally in equal numbers. This study suggests that although a short period of prior experience may promote the expression of alloparental behavior in young prairie voles, alloparental behavior occurs in most animals in all groups examined. Hormonal, sex-related or age-related changes that might be associated with development, reproductive suppression, or social stress are not related to the differential expression of alloparental behavior.

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Mech, Stephen, Aimee Dunlap, Karen Hodges und Jerry Wolff. „MULTI-MALE MATING BY PAIRED AND UNPAIRED FEMALE PRAIRIE VOLES (MICROTUS OCHROGASTER)“. Behaviour 139, Nr. 9 (2002): 1147–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15685390260437308.

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AbstractPromiscuous mating is common in female rodents; however what role the female plays in this choice of mates is not clear. Also, whether MMM occurs in the reportedly socially monogamous prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster, and what role mate-guarding plays in deterring MMM is not known. We conducted two experiments to determine if female prairie voles that were not mate-guarded would copulate with multiple males during a given oestrous period. In experiment 1 using females that were unpaired, we allowed females to choose among three males that were tethered and unable to interact with one another, thus eliminating male-male competition and mate guarding. MMM occurred in 55% of 47 trials. Females mated most often with males with whom they spent the most time, thus social preference was a good predictor of sexual preference. The tendency to mate with multiple males increased over time, thus the length of time a male mate guards can affect paternity. In experiment 2 with females that had been paired with a male and were in post-partum oestrus, 5 of 12 (42%) females mated with more than one male and 3 of 12 (25%) females deserted their paired mate and paired with a new novel male. Thus multi-male mating was similar for paired and unpaired females. Our results suggest that female prairie voles that are not mate-guarded will mate with multiple partners.

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DeVries, A. Courtney, und C. Sue Carter. „Sex differences in temporal parameters of partner preference in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)“. Canadian Journal of Zoology 77, Nr. 6 (10.10.1999): 885–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z99-054.

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Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are monogamous rodents in which both sexes form social preferences for a familiar partner. This species exhibits many of the characteristics of monogamy, including long-term social bonds, mate guarding, and biparental care. Although the behaviors associated with the development of partner preferences are superficially similar in males and females, the present study documents sex differences in the temporal parameters of partner preferences in prairie voles. Following nonsexual cohabitation, female prairie voles formed partner preferences more quickly and these preferences lasted longer than in males. These data indicate that sex differences exist in the development and maintenance of social preferences and may reflect differences in the reproductive strategies of male and female prairie voles.

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Ferkin, Michael H., Frederick H. Ferkin und Milo Richmond. „Sources of scent used by prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster, to convey sexual identity to conspecifics“. Canadian Journal of Zoology 72, Nr. 12 (01.12.1994): 2205–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z94-295.

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The presence or absence of specific odor-producing tissues has been used to suggest phylogenetic relationships among microtine rodents, but has not been related to patterns of social organization. We examined the sources of sex-specific scents in prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster, using a preference task. Prairie voles have eight sources of sex-specific scents. Four scents, namely those from the urine, feces, anogenital area, and mouth were more attractive to opposite- than same-sex conspecifics. Three scents were attractive to one sex but not the other. Scent from the back of females was attractive to males and scents from the chest and head–neck–ears of males were attractive to females. Scent from the male posterolateral region was attractive to both females and males. We then compared these eight sources of scent with the known sources of scent from meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, a species whose social system is unlike that of prairie voles. Prairie voles have more sources of sex-specific scent than meadow voles. This difference supports the hypothesis that the number of sources of sex-specific scent is greater in a social species (prairie voles) than in an asocial species (meadow voles).

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Miño C., Guillermo Paz y., und Zuleyma Tang-Martínez. „Social interactions, cross-fostering, and sibling recognition in prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster“. Canadian Journal of Zoology 77, Nr. 10 (01.12.1999): 1631–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z99-109.

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Sibling recognition in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) has been traditionally inferred from incest avoidance or lack of reproduction among littermates. Researchers have concluded that when sibling prairie voles are isolated from one another there is a breakdown of incest avoidance (and therefore of sibling recognition). In a reevaluation of these studies, using social interactions rather than incest avoidance, we found that the breakdown of incest avoidance was not equivalent to a breakdown of sibling recognition. We explored the effects of cross-fostering on sibling recognition by looking at changes in amicable or agonistic behaviors that were then used to infer sibling recognition. Prairie voles that were cross-fostered with nonsiblings were not able to recognize their own siblings when reunited and tested for social interactions in adulthood. Siblings reared apart treated their own siblings as if they were not closely related and nonsiblings reared together treated nonsiblings as if they were their own siblings. The mechanism of sibling recognition in prairie voles is association or familiarity. The ability to recognize siblings may be limited to individuals that are raised together. Sibling recognition in prairie voles may be a by-product of familiarity in early life and not a mechanism restricted to genetic relatedness as predicted by kin-selection theory.

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Paz y Miño C., Guillermo, und Zuleyma Tang-Martínez. „Effects of exposures to siblings or sibling odors on sibling recognition in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)“. Canadian Journal of Zoology 77, Nr. 1 (01.07.1999): 118–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z98-190.

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Determining the mechanisms of sibling recognition is important for understanding social behavior and the basic parameters of population dynamics (cycles) in microtine rodents. Previous studies have shown that, after relatively short periods of isolation, prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) no longer recognize their siblings. In this study we tested the hypothesis that brief encounters of prairie voles with siblings or sibling odors during a period of isolation can maintain social memory and the ability of animals to recognize their siblings over time. Six-week-old voles of both sexes that were isolated for 21 days and exposed (on days 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 of this 21-day isolation period) to brief encounters (30 min for each encounter) with their siblings continued to recognize their siblings when tested for social interactions at 42 days of age. Only females exposed to odors of same-sex siblings during the period of isolation continued to recognize their sisters. Males exposed to odors of same-sex siblings did not recognize their brothers when tested for social interactions at 42 days of age. These results demonstrate that after dispersal prairie voles need occasional encounters with their siblings, or their siblings' odors (at least in females), to reinforce social memory and the ability to recognize kin over prolonged periods of time. This study is the first to provide empirical evidence that helps us understand the mechanism by which sibling prairie voles, which are philopatric or often settle in home ranges close to one another, almost never form breeding pairs.

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Nelson, R. J., J. B. Fine, G. E. Demas und C. A. Moffatt. „Photoperiod and population density interact to affect reproductive and immune function in male prairie voles“. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 270, Nr. 3 (01.03.1996): R571—R577. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.1996.270.3.r571.

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Seasonal breeding of rodents is often associated with changes in adrenal function; altered adrenal function could account, in part, for seasonal changes in immune function and, ultimately, influence seasonal fluctuations in survival. Animals commonly monitor the annual change in photoperiod to ascertain the time of year and to make appropriate seasonal adjustments in physiology and behavior. Several extrinsic factors affect reproductive responsiveness to photoperiod. The interaction between population density and reproductive and adrenal responsiveness to photoperiod was assessed in the present experiment. Adult male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) were maintained individually for 10 wk in long [light:dark (LD) 16:8] or short (LD 8:16) photoperiods in rooms with either high (10.96 animals/m3) or low (0.18 animals/m3) population densities. Regardless of population density, short-day voles regressed the size of their reproductive organs; reproductive organ masses were higher in long-day voles housed in high-density compared with low-density rooms. Paired adrenal masses were reduced in short-day voles, but were unaffected by population density; serum corticosterone concentrations were significantly elevated in short-day compared with long-day animals. In both photoperiods, basal blood corticosterone levels were higher in voles from low-density compared with high-density rooms. Splenic masses were unaffected by day length, but were elevated among high-density animals. Similarly, serum immunoglobulin (IgG) levels were elevated among high-density animals. These results suggest that population density per se, in the absence of behavioral interactions, can affect reproductive size, and possibly function, in long-day conditions, and that prairie voles, which are highly social, exhibit higher corticosterone and lower IgG levels in low compared with high densities. These results may be important in understanding arvicoline population fluctuations, as well as improving animal husbandry practices in the lab.

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Wolff, Jerry O., Alexander G. Ophir und Steven M. Phelps. „Asynchronous breeding in the socially monogamous prairie vole“. Canadian Journal of Zoology 86, Nr. 5 (Mai 2008): 339–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z08-005.

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At least two hypotheses have been proposed for why animals should breed synchronously: (1) to swamp predators and reduce the probability of offspring being killed and (2) to promote monogamy when paternal care is important for offspring survival. Thus prey and monogamous species are likely candidates for synchronous breeding. We conducted an experiment to determine if a prey species, the monogamously breeding prairie vole ( Microtus ochrogaster (Wagner, 1842)), breeds synchronously. We conducted eight replicates in which we placed six nulliparous females and six adult males in semi-natural enclosures for 18–21 days to determine if they bred synchronously. The time of conception ranged from 2 to 18 days within replicates with no indication of breeding synchrony within any of the populations. Thus neither predator avoidance nor paternal care models were supported for prairie voles. We conclude that rodents in general are not good models for breeding synchrony and that females use alternative mating tactics to enhance their lifetime reproductive success. We discuss our results in the context of the prairie vole mating system.

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Harper, Steven J., und George O. Batzli. „Are staged dyadic encounters useful for studying aggressive behaviour of arvicoline rodents?“ Canadian Journal of Zoology 75, Nr. 7 (01.07.1997): 1051–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z97-126.

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We investigated the aggressiveness of adult prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) in dyadic encounters staged in different types of arena trials to determine if responses differed (i) between neutral arena trials conducted in the laboratory and resident–intruder trials conducted in the field, (ii) between trials staged before and after 3 months of isolation from social contact, (iii) between voles reared in the laboratory and voles reared in the field, and (iv) among trials staged with the same individual over time. Though rodents are usually expected to be more aggressive on their own home range, female prairie voles tended to be more aggressive in neutral arenas. Males showed no difference in aggression between trials held in neutral arenas and trials held in arenas placed in their home ranges. Aggressiveness was not affected by 3 months of isolation for either males or females, suggesting that recent social cues may not strongly influence aggressive behaviour in this species. Voles reared in the laboratory were significantly more aggressive than those reared in enclosed field populations, which suggests that direct comparisons of field and laboratory studies of aggressive behaviour may be suspect. Individuals showed little change in aggressiveness when tested over several weeks in three trials with different opponents. We conclude that encounters staged in arenas provide standardized estimates of aggressiveness that are robust to differences in testing procedures and are repeatable over time. Therefore, their continued use seems warranted for studying aggressive behaviour of voles and lemmings.

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Nair, Hemanth P., und Larry J. Young. „Vasopressin and Pair-Bond Formation: Genes to Brain to Behavior“. Physiology 21, Nr. 2 (April 2006): 146–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/physiol.00049.2005.

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Microtine rodents provide an excellent model for the study of the neurobiology of social bonds. In this review, we discuss how the presence of a microsatellite sequence in the prairie vole vasopressin receptor gene may determine vasopressin receptor binding patterns in the brain and how these patterns may in turn affect social behavior.

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Mech, S. G., und M. H. Ferkin. „SCENT MARKING IN MEADOW VOLES AND PRAIRIE VOLES: A TEST OF THREE HYPOTHESES“. Behaviour 138, Nr. 11-12 (2001): 1319–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853901317367618.

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AbstractMost terrestrial mammals deposit scent marks to communicate with conspecifics. We examined the scent marking behaviour of meadow voles and prairie voles, species with different mating systems and social organizations, to determine whether voles scent mark according to the 'targeting' response, the 'avoidance' response, or the 'shotgun' response. The targeting response occurs when the second scent donor deposits more of its scent marks in an area marked by the first scent donor than in an unscented area. The avoidance response occurs when the second scent donor deposits more of its scent marks in an unscented area than in an area marked by the first scent donor. The shotgun response occurs when the second scent donor deposits a similar number of its scent marks in an area containing scent marks of a conspecific and in an area containing no conspecific scent marks. We allowed voles simultaneous access to an arena containing two arms: one of the arms was scented by a conspecific and the other arm was unscented. We recorded the number of marks deposited by the voles in each arm and the amount of time they spent investigating marks deposited previously in the scented arm. Our data provide no support for the avoidance response, but provide support for the shotgun response and the target response. Species and sex differences in the scent marking behaviours of voles when they encounter the scent marks of conspecifics are discussed within the framework that scent marking responses depend on the voles' social organization and mating system, and that these responses may reflect the tactics males and females use to attract mates and compete with same-sex conspecifics.

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Getz, Lowell L., Laura E. Simms und Betty McGuire. „Nestling survival and population cycles in the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster“. Canadian Journal of Zoology 78, Nr. 10 (01.10.2000): 1723–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z00-101.

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We live-trapped a population of the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster, occupying an alfalfa habitat twice weekly for 63 months. The population underwent four high-amplitude cycles during this time. The most consistent factor associated with population increases was an increase in the number of young animals recruited into the population. Recruitment of young was more a function of survival of offspring during the nestling period than of the proportion of pregnant females in the population. Increased adult survival and reproduction in the population only partly explained the increase phase of the cycles. The decline phases resulted from a combination of decreased reproduction and increased adult mortality. Precipitous declines were associated with major mortality episodes, some less than a week in duration.

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Jones, Carolyn, Randall Olson, Alex Chau, Peyton Wickham, Ryan Leriche, Christina Reynolds, Cynthia Moore et al. „025 Sleep Disruption on an Orbital Shaker alters Glutamate in Prairie Vole Prefrontal Cortex“. Sleep 44, Supplement_2 (01.05.2021): A11—A12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsab072.024.

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Abstract Introduction Glutamate concentrations in the cortex fluctuate with the sleep wake cycle in both rodents and humans. Altered glutamatergic signaling, as well as the early life onset of sleep disturbances have been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder. In order to study how sleep modulates glutamate activity in brain regions relevant to social behavior and development, we disrupted sleep in the socially monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) rodent species and quantified markers of glutamate neurotransmission within the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain responsible for advanced cognition and complex social behaviors. Methods Male and female prairie voles were sleep disrupted using an orbital shaker to deliver automated gentle cage agitation at continuous intervals. Sleep was measured using EEG/EMG signals and paired with real time glutamate concentrations in the prefrontal cortex using an amperometric glutamate biosensor. This same method of sleep disruption was applied early in development (postnatal days 14–21) and the long term effects on brain development were quantified by examining glutamatergic synapses in adulthood. Results Consistent with previous research in rats, glutamate concentration in the prefrontal cortex increased during periods of wake in the prairie vole. Sleep disruption using the orbital shaker method resulted in brief cortical arousals and reduced time in REM sleep. When applied during development, early life sleep disruption resulted in long-term changes in both pre- and post-synaptic components of glutamatergic synapses in the prairie vole prefrontal cortex including increased density of immature spines. Conclusion In the prairie vole rodent model, sleep disruption on an orbital shaker produces a sleep, behavioral, and neurological phenotype that mirrors aspects of autism spectrum disorder including altered features of excitatory neurotransmission within the prefrontal cortex. Studies using this method of sleep disruption combined with real time biosensors for excitatory neurotransmitters will enhance our understanding of modifiable risk factors, such as sleep, that contribute to the altered development of glutamatergic synapses in the brain and their relationship to social behavior. Support (if any) NSF #1926818, VA CDA #IK2 BX002712, Portland VA Research Foundation, NIH NHLBI 5T32HL083808-10, VA Merit Review #I01BX001643

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Sinclair, J. A., und R. L. Lochmiller. „The winter immunoenhancement hypothesis: associations among immunity, density, and survival in prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) populations“. Canadian Journal of Zoology 78, Nr. 2 (05.03.2000): 254–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z99-203.

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Seasonal variations in photoperiod, temperature, and population density have been shown to modulate immune responsiveness of animals in laboratory studies. To examine these associations under natural conditions, we monitored 3 populations of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) for temporal variations in selected immunological parameters, population density, and survival rate from winter 1996 to spring 1997. Spontaneous and cytokine-stimulated T-cell proliferative responsiveness of prairie voles peaked in winter and declined in spring. Relative organ mass, hemolytic-complement activity, and in vivo hypersensitivity responses varied temporally but showed no clear seasonal trend. The population density and survival rate of all 3 prairie vole populations varied temporally and correlated with measures of immunity. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the model containing relative spleen mass, cytokine-stimulated T-cell proliferation, and in vivo hypersensitivity explained a significant amount of variability in population density, while cytokine-stimulated T-cell proliferation and relative thymus mass explained a significant amount of variability in survival rate. The results suggest that seasonal environmental changes can enhance immune responsiveness of a host and may counteract the immunoenhancing effects of photoperiod in wild populations of prairie voles. Our results also suggest that there is an association between immune function and demography in wild populations.

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Fletcher, Kelsey L., Brittany N. Whitley, Lisa A. Treidel, David Thompson, Annie Williams, Jose C. Noguera, Jennie R. Stevenson und Mark F. Haussmann. „Voluntary locomotor activity mitigates oxidative damage associated with isolation stress in the prairie vole ( Microtus ochrogaster )“. Biology Letters 11, Nr. 7 (Juli 2015): 20150178. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2015.0178.

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Organismal performance directly depends on an individual's ability to cope with a wide array of physiological challenges. For social animals, social isolation is a stressor that has been shown to increase oxidative stress. Another physiological challenge, routine locomotor activity, has been found to decrease oxidative stress levels. Because we currently do not have a good understanding of how diverse physiological systems like stress and locomotion interact to affect oxidative balance, we studied this interaction in the prairie vole ( Microtus ochrogaster ). Voles were either pair housed or isolated and within the isolation group, voles either had access to a moving wheel or a stationary wheel. We found that chronic periodic isolation caused increased levels of oxidative stress. However, within the vole group that was able to run voluntarily, longer durations of locomotor activity were associated with less oxidative stress. Our work suggests that individuals who demonstrate increased locomotor activity may be better able to cope with the social stressor of isolation.

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Hammond, Kimberly A. „Seasonal changes in gut size of the wild prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster)“. Canadian Journal of Zoology 71, Nr. 4 (01.04.1993): 820–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z93-107.

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The gut sizes of wild adult male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) were found to fluctuate throughout the year. This fluctuation was highly variable, but the changes were mainly increases in the mass of the cecum and small intestine during the fall and early winter. The gut sizes (length and dry mass) of field animals were found to be similar to those of laboratory voles fed a high-fiber diet (> 40% cell wall) and (or) held at a low temperature (5 °C). In almost all cases, the gut sizes of wild voles were greater than those of laboratory voles maintained at 23 °C and fed low-fiber diets (< 20% cell wall). Despite considerable seasonal variation in gut size, there does not appear to be a strongly repeatable relationship between time of year and changes in gut size. However, because wild voles appear to have larger guts than laboratory voles acclimated to relatively energy-demanding conditions, I suggest that wild voles are living under a greater energy demand and (or) eating lower quality diets than was previously suggested.

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Solomon, Nancy G., und Joseph J. Jacquot. „Characteristics of resident and wandering prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster“. Canadian Journal of Zoology 80, Nr. 5 (01.05.2002): 951–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z02-053.

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Many studies have documented intraspecific differences in the behavior of males or females. In some species, many adults are territorial while others have larger home ranges encompassing multiple territories. Although these two types of behavior have been documented, they are not well understood in mammals. Therefore, in the mono gamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) we characterized individuals that engage in these two behavior patterns as residents and wanderers. We monitored populations enclosed in 0.1-ha. enclosures at Miami University's Ecology Research Center. As many as 26% of animals were wanderers: animals captured frequently, but less than 75% of the time, at one nest. As expected, wanderers had larger home ranges than residents. Wanderers were primarily adult males (70%) but included some adult females. This behavior pattern was not fixed, since some wanderers previously had been residents and at least 31% of males and 57% of adult female wanderers became residents during the same field season. Wanderers were not in worse physical condition, as estimated by body mass, and survived for slightly longer than residents. Thus, it does not appear that wanderers are making the best of a bad situation, but analysis of parentage is critical to validate this conclusion.

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McGuire, Betty, Theresa Pizzuto und Lowell L. Getz. „Potential for social interaction in a natural population of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)“. Canadian Journal of Zoology 68, Nr. 2 (01.02.1990): 391–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z90-056.

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Many hypotheses on the role of social behavior in population regulation of microtine rodents assume that social interactions are more frequent at high density than at low density. We evaluated this assumption by measuring potential for social contact in a population of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Our livetrapping regime monitored presence of resident and nonresident animals at the periphery of home ranges of social groups. Resident adults and young of both sexes were captured at home range boundaries. Potential for social interaction with nonresidents was greater at the periphery of home ranges than at nests. Intruders tended to be male adults from neighboring social groups. Presence of adult males in the resident group played an important role in deterring visits by nonresident males. During the spring, summer, and autumn reproductive period, number of captures of nonresident males, but not females, showed a strong positive relationship with population density. Despite relatively high densities during the winter nonreproductive period, there were few captures of residents and nonresidents at the periphery of home ranges. We conclude that the relationship between potential for social interaction and population density varied as a function of sex and season.

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Stevenson, Tyler J., Beau A. Alward, Francis J. P. Ebling, Russell D. Fernald, Aubrey Kelly und Alexander G. Ophir. „The Value of Comparative Animal Research: Krogh’s Principle Facilitates Scientific Discoveries“. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences 5, Nr. 1 (21.12.2017): 118–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2372732217745097.

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Biomedical research is dominated by relatively few nonhuman animals to investigate healthy and disease conditions. Research has overrelied on these models due to their well-described genomes, the capability to control specific genes, and the high rate of reproduction. However, recent advances in large-scale molecular sequencing experiments have revealed, in some cases, the limited similarities in experimental outcomes observed in common rodents (i.e., mice) compared with humans. The value of more varied comparative animal models includes examples such as long-term body weight regulation in seasonally breeding hamsters as a means to help understand the obesity epidemic, vocal learning in songbirds to illuminate language acquisition and maintenance, and reproduction in cichlid fish to discover novel genes conserved in humans. Studying brain genes in prairie voles and cichlids advanced knowledge about social behavior. Taken together, experiments on diverse animal species highlight nontraditional systems for advancing our understanding of human health and well-being.

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Prounis, George S., Lauren Foley, Asad Rehman und Alexander G. Ophir. „Perinatal and juvenile social environments interact to shape cognitive behaviour and neural phenotype in prairie voles“. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 282, Nr. 1819 (22.11.2015): 20152236. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2015.2236.

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Social environments experienced at different developmental stages profoundly shape adult behavioural and neural phenotypes, and may have important interactive effects. We asked if social experience before and after weaning influenced adult social cognition in male prairie voles. Animals were raised either with or without fathers and then either housed singly or in sibling pairs. Males that were socially deprived before (fatherless) and after (singly housed) weaning did not demonstrate social recognition or dissociate spatial from social information. We also examined oxytocin and vasopressin receptors (OTR and V1aR) in areas of the forebrain associated with social behaviour and memory. Pre- and post-wean experience differentially altered receptor expression in several structures. Of note, OTR in the lateral septum—an area in which oxytocin inhibits social recognition—was greatest in animals that did not clearly demonstrate social recognition. The combination of absentee fathers on V1aR in the retrosplenial cortex and single housing on OTR in the septohippocampal nucleus produced a unique phenotype previously found to be associated with poor reproductive success in nature. We demonstrate that interactive effects of early life experiences throughout development have tremendous influence over brain–behaviour phenotype and can buffer potentially negative outcomes due to social deprivation.

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McGuire, Betty, Lowell L. Getz, William E. Bemis und Madan K. Oli. „Social dynamics and dispersal in free-living prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)“. Journal of Mammalogy 94, Nr. 1 (Februar 2013): 40–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1644/11-mamm-a-387.1.

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Getz, Lowell L., Nancy G. Solomon und Theresa M. Pizzuto. „The Effects of Predation of Snakes on Social Organization of the Prairie Vole, Microtus ochrogaster“. American Midland Naturalist 123, Nr. 2 (April 1990): 365. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2426564.

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Katayama, Masafumi, Takashi Hirayama, Kengo Horie, Tohru Kiyono, Kenichiro Donai, Satoru Takeda, Katsuhiko Nishimori und Tomokazu Fukuda. „Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells with Six Reprogramming Factors from Prairie Vole, Which is an Animal Model for Social Behaviors“. Cell Transplantation 25, Nr. 5 (Mai 2016): 783–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.3727/096368916x690502.

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Solomon, Nancy G. „Body size and social preferences of male and female prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster“. Animal Behaviour 45, Nr. 5 (Mai 1993): 1031–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/anbe.1993.1122.

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Sun, P., A. S. Smith, K. Lei, Y. Liu und Z. Wang. „Breaking bonds in male prairie vole: Long-term effects on emotional and social behavior, physiology, and neurochemistry“. Behavioural Brain Research 265 (Mai 2014): 22–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2014.02.016.

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Streatfeild, Craig A., Karen E. Mabry, Brian Keane, Thomas O. Crist und Nancy G. Solomon. „Intraspecific variability in the social and genetic mating systems of prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster“. Animal Behaviour 82, Nr. 6 (Dezember 2011): 1387–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.09.023.

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McGuire, Betty, und Lowell L. Getz. „The nature and frequency of social interactions among free-living prairie voles ( Microtus ochrogaster )“. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 43, Nr. 4-5 (24.08.1998): 271–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002650050491.

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Castro, A. E., L. J. Young, F. J. Camacho, R. G. Paredes, N. F. Diaz und W. Portillo. „Effects of Mating and Social Exposure on Cell Proliferation in the Adult Male Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster)“. Neural Plasticity 2020 (22.09.2020): 1–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8869669.

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Microtus ochrogaster is a rodent with a monogamous reproductive strategy characterized by strong pair bond formation after 6 h of mating. Here, we determine whether mating-induced pair bonding increases cell proliferation in the subventricular zone (SVZ), rostral migratory stream (RMS), and dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus in male voles. Males were assigned to one of the four groups: (1) control: males were placed alone in a clean cage; (2) social exposure to a female (SE m/f): males that could see, hear, and smell a sexually receptive female but where physical contact was not possible, because the animals were separated by an acrylic screen with small holes; (3) social exposure to a male (SE m/m): same as group 2 but males were exposed to another male without physical contact; and (4) social cohabitation with mating (SCM): males that mated freely with a receptive female for 6 h. This procedure leads to pair bond formation. Groups 2 and 3 were controls for social interaction. Male prairie voles were injected with 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) during the behavioral tests and were sacrificed 48 h later. Brains were processed to identify the new cells (BrdU-positive) and neuron precursor cells (neuroblasts). Our principal findings are that in the dorsal region of the SVZ, SCM and SE m/f and m/m increase the percentage of neuron precursor cells. In the anterior region of the RMS, SE m/f decreases the percentage of neuron precursor cells, and in the medial region SE m/f and m/m decrease the number of new cells and neuron precursor cells. In the infrapyramidal blade of the subgranular zone of the DG, SE m/m and SCM increase the number of new neuron precursor cells and SE m/m increases the percentage of these neurons. Our data suggests that social interaction, as well as sexual stimulation, leads to pair bonding in male voles modulating cell proliferation and differentiation to neuronal precursor cells at the SVZ, RMS, and DG.

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Curtis, J. Thomas, Amber N. Hood, Yue Chen, George P. Cobb und David R. Wallace. „Chronic metals ingestion by prairie voles produces sex-specific deficits in social behavior: An animal model of autism“. Behavioural Brain Research 213, Nr. 1 (November 2010): 42–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2010.04.028.

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Witt, Diane M., C. Sue Carter, Kathy Carlstead und Linnea D. Read. „Sexual and social interactions preceding and during male-induced oestrus in prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster“. Animal Behaviour 36, Nr. 5 (September 1988): 1465–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0003-3472(88)80217-3.

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Lin, Y. K., B. Keane, A. Isenhour und N. G. Solomon. „EFFECTS OF PATCH QUALITY ON DISPERSAL AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF PRAIRIE VOLES: AN EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH“. Journal of Mammalogy 87, Nr. 3 (Juni 2006): 446–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1644/05-mamm-a-201r1.1.

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Mabry, Karen E., Craig A. Streatfeild, Brian Keane und Nancy G. Solomon. „avpr1a length polymorphism is not associated with either social or genetic monogamy in free-living prairie voles“. Animal Behaviour 81, Nr. 1 (Januar 2011): 11–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2010.09.021.

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Ahern, Todd H., Alexander Ophir und David Burn. „Evaluating the stability of individual variation in social and nonsocial behavioural types using prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)“. Behavioural Processes 169 (Dezember 2019): 103961. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2019.103961.

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Kenkel, W. M., A. M. Perkeybile, J. R. Yee, H. Pournajafi-Nazarloo, T. S. Lillard, E. F. Ferguson, K. L. Wroblewski, C. F. Ferris, C. S. Carter und J. J. Connelly. „Behavioral and epigenetic consequences of oxytocin treatment at birth“. Science Advances 5, Nr. 5 (Mai 2019): eaav2244. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aav2244.

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Oxytocin is used in approximately half of all births in the United States during labor induction and/or augmentation. However, the effects of maternal oxytocin administration on offspring development have not been fully characterized. Here, we used the socially monogamous prairie vole to examine the hypothesis that oxytocin exposure at birth can have long-term developmental consequences. Maternally administered oxytocin increased methylation of the oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) in the fetal brain. As adults, oxytocin-exposed voles were more gregarious, with increased alloparental caregiving toward pups and increased close social contact with other adults. Cross-fostering indicated that these effects were the result of direct action on the offspring, rather than indirect effects via postnatal changes in maternal behavior. Male oxytocin-exposed offspring had increased oxytocin receptor density and expression in the brain as adults. These results show that long-term effects of perinatal oxytocin may be mediated by an epigenetic mechanism.

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Danoff, Joshua S., Kelly L. Wroblewski, Andrew J. Graves, Graham C. Quinn, Allison M. Perkeybile, William M. Kenkel, Travis S. Lillard et al. „Genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors controlling oxytocin receptor gene expression“. Clinical Epigenetics 13, Nr. 1 (30.01.2021). http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13148-021-01017-5.

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Abstract Background The neuropeptide oxytocin regulates mammalian social behavior. Disruptions in oxytocin signaling are a feature of many psychopathologies. One commonly studied biomarker for oxytocin involvement in psychiatric diseases is DNA methylation at the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR). Such studies focus on DNA methylation in two regions of OXTR, exon 3 and a region termed MT2 which overlaps exon 1 and intron 1. However, the relative contribution of exon 3 and MT2 in regulating OXTR gene expression in the brain is currently unknown. Results Here, we use the prairie vole as a translational animal model to investigate genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors affecting Oxtr gene expression in a region of the brain that has been shown to drive Oxtr related behavior in the vole, the nucleus accumbens. We show that the genetic structure of Oxtr in prairie voles resembles human OXTR. We then studied the effects of early life experience on DNA methylation in two regions of a CpG island surrounding the Oxtr promoter: MT2 and exon 3. We show that early nurture in the form of parental care results in DNA hypomethylation of Oxtr in both MT2 and exon 3, but only DNA methylation in MT2 is associated with Oxtr gene expression. Network analyses indicate that CpG sites in the 3′ portion of MT2 are most highly associated with Oxtr gene expression. We also identify two novel SNPs in exon 3 of Oxtr in prairie voles and a novel alternative transcript originating from the third intron of the gene. Expression of the novel alternative transcript is associated with genotype at SNP KLW2. Conclusions These results identify putative regulatory features of Oxtr in prairie voles which inform future studies examining OXTR in human social behaviors and disorders. These studies indicate that in prairie voles, DNA methylation in MT2, particularly in the 3′ portion, is more predictive of Oxtr gene expression than DNA methylation in exon 3. Similarly, in human temporal cortex, we find that DNA methylation in the 3′ portion of MT2 is associated with OXTR expression. Together, these results suggest that among the CpG sites studied, DNA methylation of MT2 may be the most reliable indicator of OXTR gene expression. We also identify novel features of prairie vole Oxtr, including SNPs and an alternative transcript, which further develop the prairie vole as a translational model for studies of OXTR.

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Donovan, Meghan, Michael D. J. Lynch, Calvin S. Mackey, Grayson N. Platt, Brian K. Washburn, Daniel L. Vera, Darryl J. Trickey, Trevor C. Charles, Zuoxin Wang und Kathryn M. Jones. „Metagenome-Assembled Genome Sequences of Five Strains from the Microtus ochrogaster (Prairie Vole) Fecal Microbiome“. Microbiology Resource Announcements 9, Nr. 2 (09.01.2020). http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/mra.01310-19.

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The prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) is an important model for the study of social monogamy and dual parental care of offspring. Characterization of specific host species-microbe strain interactions is critical for understanding the effects of the microbiota on mood and behavior. The five metagenome-assembled genome sequences reported here represent an important step in defining the prairie vole microbiome.

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López-Gutiérrez, M. Fernanda, Zeus Gracia-Tabuenca, Juan J. Ortiz, Francisco J. Camacho, Larry J. Young, Raúl G. Paredes, Néstor F. Díaz, Wendy Portillo und Sarael Alcauter. „Brain functional networks associated with social bonding in monogamous voles“. eLife 10 (14.01.2021). http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/elife.55081.

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Previous studies have related pair-bonding in Microtus ochrogaster, the prairie vole, with plastic changes in several brain regions. However, the interactions between these socially relevant regions have yet to be described. In this study, we used resting-state magnetic resonance imaging to explore bonding behaviors and functional connectivity of brain regions previously associated with pair-bonding. Thirty-two male and female prairie voles were scanned at baseline, 24 hr, and 2 weeks after the onset of cohabitation. By using network-based statistics, we identified that the functional connectivity of a corticostriatal network predicted the onset of affiliative behavior, while another predicted the amount of social interaction during a partner preference test. Furthermore, a network with significant changes in time was revealed, also showing associations with the level of partner preference. Overall, our findings revealed the association between network-level functional connectivity changes and social bonding.

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Gillera, Sagi Enicole A., William P. Marinello, Kevin T. Cao, Brian M. Horman, Heather M. Stapleton und Heather B. Patisaul. „Sex-specific Disruption of the Prairie Vole Hypothalamus by Developmental Exposure to a Flame Retardant Mixture“. Endocrinology 162, Nr. 8 (26.05.2021). http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/endocr/bqab100.

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Abstract Prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) with social deficits is conspicuously rising, particularly in boys. Flame retardants (FRs) have long been associated with increased risk, and prior work by us and others in multiple species has shown that developmental exposure to the common FR mixture Firemaster 550 (FM 550) sex-specifically alters socioemotional behaviors including anxiety and pair bond formation. In rats, FRs have also been shown to impair aspects of osmoregulation. Because vasopressin (AVP) plays a role in both socioemotional behavior and osmotic balance we hypothesized that AVP and its related nonapeptide oxytocin (OT) would be vulnerable to developmental FM 550 exposure. We used the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaste) to test this because it is spontaneously prosocial. Using siblings of prairie voles used in a prior study that assessed behavioral deficits resulting from developmental FM 550 exposure across 3 doses, here we tested the hypothesis that FM 550 sex-specifically alters AVP and OT neuronal populations in critical nuclei, such as the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), that coordinate those behaviors, as well as related dopaminergic (determined by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunolabeling) populations. Exposed females had fewer AVP neurons in the anterior PVN and more A13 TH neurons in the zona incerta than controls. By contrast, in FM 550 males, A13 TH neuron numbers in the zona incerta were decreased but only in 1 dose group. These results expand on previous work showing evidence of endocrine disruption of OT/AVP pathways, including to subpopulations of PVN AVP neurons that coordinate osmoregulatory functions in the periphery.

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Sabol, Anne C., Nancy G. Solomon und Ben Dantzer. „How to Study Socially Monogamous Behavior in Secretive Animals? Using Social Network Analyses and Automated Tracking Systems to Study the Social Behavior of Prairie Voles“. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 6 (09.11.2018). http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2018.00178.

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McGuire, Betty, LowellL Getz, JoyceE Hofmann, Theresa Pizzuto und Barbara Frase. „Natal dispersal and philopatry in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) in relation to population density, season, and natal social environment“. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 32, Nr. 5 (Mai 1993). http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/bf00183784.

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Tripp, Joel A., Alejandro Berrio, Lisa A. McGraw, Mikhail V. Matz, Jamie K. Davis, Kiyoshi Inoue, James W. Thomas, Larry J. Young und Steven M. Phelps. „Comparative neurotranscriptomics reveal widespread species differences associated with bonding“. BMC Genomics 22, Nr. 1 (31.05.2021). http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12864-021-07720-0.

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Abstract Background Pair bonding with a reproductive partner is rare among mammals but is an important feature of human social behavior. Decades of research on monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), along with comparative studies using the related non-bonding meadow vole (M. pennsylvanicus), have revealed many of the neural and molecular mechanisms necessary for pair-bond formation in that species. However, these studies have largely focused on just a few neuromodulatory systems. To test the hypothesis that neural gene expression differences underlie differential capacities to bond, we performed RNA-sequencing on tissue from three brain regions important for bonding and other social behaviors across bond-forming prairie voles and non-bonding meadow voles. We examined gene expression in the amygdala, hypothalamus, and combined ventral pallidum/nucleus accumbens in virgins and at three time points after mating to understand species differences in gene expression at baseline, in response to mating, and during bond formation. Results We first identified species and brain region as the factors most strongly associated with gene expression in our samples. Next, we found gene categories related to cell structure, translation, and metabolism that differed in expression across species in virgins, as well as categories associated with cell structure, synaptic and neuroendocrine signaling, and transcription and translation that varied among the focal regions in our study. Additionally, we identified genes that were differentially expressed across species after mating in each of our regions of interest. These include genes involved in regulating transcription, neuron structure, and synaptic plasticity. Finally, we identified modules of co-regulated genes that were strongly correlated with brain region in both species, and modules that were correlated with post-mating time points in prairie voles but not meadow voles. Conclusions These results reinforce the importance of pre-mating differences that confer the ability to form pair bonds in prairie voles but not promiscuous species such as meadow voles. Gene ontology analysis supports the hypothesis that pair-bond formation involves transcriptional regulation, and changes in neuronal structure. Together, our results expand knowledge of the genes involved in the pair bonding process and open new avenues of research in the molecular mechanisms of bond formation.

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