Modulation of male mouse sociosexual and anxiety-like behaviors by vasopressin receptors

• Published in: Physiology & behavior Vol. 197; pp. 37 - 41
• Main Authors: Shimizu, Kie, Nakamura, Kazuaki, Yokosuka, Makoto, Kondo, Yasuhiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2018
• Subjects: Animals; Anxiety; Anxiety - metabolism; Arginine vasopressin; Choice Behavior - physiology; Estrous Cycle; Exploratory Behavior - physiology; Female; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Olfactory Perception - physiology; Receptors, Vasopressin - genetics; Receptors, Vasopressin - metabolism; Sexual behavior; Sexual Behavior, Animal - physiology; Social interaction; V1a and V1b double knocked out mice; Anxiety; Arginine vasopressin; Social interaction; Sexual behavior; V1a and V1b double knocked out mice
• ISSN: 0031-9384; 1873-507X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.09.016

Although the involvement of two types of vasopressin (AVP) receptors, v1a and v1b, in neural regulation of social behavior is well documented in rodents, there is no report on combined actions of them in regulation of social behavior. In this study, we investigated behavioral differences between wild-type (WT) and v1a and v1b double knockout (dKO) mice. For this, we measured olfactory preference, sexual behavior with receptive females (four weekly tests) in an enriched large observation cage, and anxiety-like behaviors. No difference between WT and dKO mice was found in olfactory preferences for estrous female odor to male odor. Over all four mating tests, the number of mounts and pursuits after receptive females was significantly greater in dKO mice than in WT mice. In the elevated plus maze and the open field test, dKO mice showed lower anxiety-like behavior than WT mice. Finally, we measured approach behavior to several types of objects, figurines, and caged anestrous or estrous females placed in the open field apparatus. The only difference observed was that dKO mice spent longer in the vicinity of estrous females than did WT mice. These findings suggest that vasopressin receptors are involved in the regulation of sociosexual behavior, presumably partly mediated by emotional responses, in male mice. •Double-knockout (dKO) of vasopressin v1a and v1b receptors enhanced sexual activity in male mice.•The dKO decreases anxiety-like behavior in the open field and the elevated plus maze.•Male mice with dKO show longer access to estrous, but not anestrous, females in the open field than wild-type mice.