Posters
Presentation Type
Poster
Discipline Track
Biomedical Science
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
As the literature on the Monodelphis domestica continues to grow, it is important to contribute to the knowledge base regarding neural pathways and their role in social behavior in this species. Previous studies have provided evidence that increased activity in ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons were associated with more social activity in mice. It is also known that in traditional rodent models, the Nucleus Accumbens (NAcc) is implicated in interaction reward processes like motivation; however, more research is needed to elucidate the role of the NAcc in social behavior of the M. domestica. The present study was designed to address the knowledge gap regarding the brain and social behavior using M. domestica as an animal model. Using immunohistochemistry, we characterized the expression of Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH), a marker for dopamine neurons, in both the VTA and the NAc of M. domestica and determined that the pattern of TH expression is similar to what is observed in rodents. Next, the expression of TH in opossums that were exposed to a social stimulus were compared to TH levels in animals that were not exposed to a social stimulus, confirming an effect of isolation on TH immunoreactivity. Social stimuli were provided by housing the opossums in groups of 2-3 same-sex partners or by themselves in their cages. Given that Monodelphis is a model for neurodevelopmental research, this study could serve as the first to look at neurotransmitters that are associated with social behavior in an animal model that is not widely studied. A goal of this presentation is to better inform clinicians about the possible biological basis of social isolation and the negative symptoms associated with it. Using the data that was collected, we can begin to understand the biological markers that are implicated in human psychological disorders and find areas to target with different treatment modalities.
Recommended Citation
Botello, Cristian M.; Heingraj, Sasawan; VandeBerg, John L.; and Gil, Mario, "The impact of social isolation on the Neural Pathways of Dopamine Neurons in the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) and the Nucelus Accumbens (NAc): Implications for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and drug addiction." (2023). Research Symposium. 27.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2022/posters/27
The impact of social isolation on the Neural Pathways of Dopamine Neurons in the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) and the Nucelus Accumbens (NAc): Implications for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and drug addiction.
As the literature on the Monodelphis domestica continues to grow, it is important to contribute to the knowledge base regarding neural pathways and their role in social behavior in this species. Previous studies have provided evidence that increased activity in ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons were associated with more social activity in mice. It is also known that in traditional rodent models, the Nucleus Accumbens (NAcc) is implicated in interaction reward processes like motivation; however, more research is needed to elucidate the role of the NAcc in social behavior of the M. domestica. The present study was designed to address the knowledge gap regarding the brain and social behavior using M. domestica as an animal model. Using immunohistochemistry, we characterized the expression of Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH), a marker for dopamine neurons, in both the VTA and the NAc of M. domestica and determined that the pattern of TH expression is similar to what is observed in rodents. Next, the expression of TH in opossums that were exposed to a social stimulus were compared to TH levels in animals that were not exposed to a social stimulus, confirming an effect of isolation on TH immunoreactivity. Social stimuli were provided by housing the opossums in groups of 2-3 same-sex partners or by themselves in their cages. Given that Monodelphis is a model for neurodevelopmental research, this study could serve as the first to look at neurotransmitters that are associated with social behavior in an animal model that is not widely studied. A goal of this presentation is to better inform clinicians about the possible biological basis of social isolation and the negative symptoms associated with it. Using the data that was collected, we can begin to understand the biological markers that are implicated in human psychological disorders and find areas to target with different treatment modalities.