Neuronal Properties in the Lateral Habenula and Adult-Newborn Interactions in Virgin Female and Male Mice.
Details
Serval ID
serval:BIB_118BFBE95CE2
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Neuronal Properties in the Lateral Habenula and Adult-Newborn Interactions in Virgin Female and Male Mice.
Journal
eNeuro
ISSN
2373-2822 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
2373-2822
Publication state
Published
Issued date
02/2025
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
12
Number
2
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: epublish
Publication Status: epublish
Abstract
The behavioral interactions between adults and newborns are decisive for the fitness and the survival of offspring across the animal kingdom. In laboratory mice, while virgin females display caregiving behaviors, virgin males are rather neglectful or aggressive toward pups. Despite the importance of these behavioral variations, the underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. Brain regions encoding these behaviors may exhibit sex-dependent functional differences at the baseline. Additionally, these structures might undergo sex-specific plasticity after adults interact with the offspring. Emerging evidence suggests sex-based differences in input connectivity, genetics, and receptor expression of the epithalamic lateral habenula (LHb). Moreover, LHb neuronal activity is instrumental for adult-newborn interactions. However, whether LHb neuronal function varies between sexes and/or undergoes adaptations following interactions with pups has not been fully investigated. In this study, we used in vivo and ex vivo single-cell electrophysiology to examine the basal LHb neuronal activity of virgin female and male mice. In a second set of experiments, we exposed mice to pups and recapitulated sex-based divergent behaviors. Recordings in acute slices showed no alterations in LHb firing properties, regardless of sex or pup exposure. These findings suggest that, although the LHb participates in adult behaviors toward pups, this is not mediated by sex-dependent functional differences or adaptations in the neuronal firing properties. Thus, this study provides new insights into the neural basis of sex-specific adult-newborn behaviors and the role of the LHb in these processes.
Keywords
Animals, Habenula/physiology, Male, Female, Neurons/physiology, Sex Characteristics, Animals, Newborn, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Action Potentials/physiology, Mice, adult–newborn interactions, lateral habenula, neuronal excitability, pup aggression, pup retrieval, sex dimorphism
Pubmed
Open Access
Yes
Create date
14/02/2025 17:46
Last modification date
25/02/2025 7:06