PhD Scientific Days 2020

Neurosciences II. Lectures

Involvement of a Novel Thalamo-Preoptic Neuronal Pathway in Social Interaction Using Double Viral Chemogenetics in the Rat

Előadó neve

Dr. Keller, Dávid

Előadó munkahelye

Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University

Előadó telefonszáma

+36309484383

Előadó e-mail címe

keller.david8@gmail.com

Az előadás címe

Involvement of a Novel Thalamo-Preoptic Neuronal Pathway in Social Interaction Using Double Viral Chemogenetics in the Rat

Szerző(k) neve és munkahelye

Dávid Keller1, Tamás Láng1, Melinda Cservenák2, Emese A. Fazekas2, Arpád Dobolyi1,2
1Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest
2MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest

Szekció

Neurosciences II. Lectures

Language of the presentation

English

Section, first choice

Neurosciences

Section, second choice

Theoretical and Translational Medicine

Összefoglaló szövege

We previously identified the posterior intralaminar thalamic nucleus (PIL) as a relay station of socially relevant sensory information activating oxytocin-secreting neurons upon social encounter. Here, we addressed to characterize the exact role of the PIL in the regulation of the social behavior, especially its neurons projecting to the preoptic area of the hypothalamus.
Projections from the PIL were analyzed using anterograde tract-tracing. We determined the effect of chemogenetic stimulation of the PIL neurons on the social interactions between familiar adult female rats using the designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD) technique. The brain activation patterns were determined following direct social interaction, and also with the exclusion of physical interaction using the c-Fos technique. The selective chemogenetic stimulation of the preoptic area-projecting PIL neurons was performed using double viral injections. A retrogradely spreading adeno-associated virus (AAV) encoding Cre-recombinase was injected into the preoptic area, and labeled the PIL. Another AAV, which expressed Cre-dependent DREADD was injected into the PIL.
PIL projects to several socially implicated brain regions, such as the lateral septal nucleus, the medial amygdala, the medial preoptic area, the paraventricular and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei and the infralimbic cortex. Chemogenetic stimulation of the PIL resulted in the activation of the previously anatomically identified target areas and also increased the duration of direct interactions during social behavior. Direct contact during social interaction caused the largest increase in the activity in the medial preoptic area. Specific chemogenetic stimulation of the PIL-preoptic pathway led to elevated direct social contact.
The results suggest that posterior thalamic PIL neurons convey socially relevant information to a variety of different forebrain centers, among which the preoptic area is involved in the processing of physical contact. Thus, we identified an important novel component of the social brain network, which may increase the motivation for positive direct interactions.
Support: New National Excellence Program of the Ministry of Human Capacities, Excellence Program of the Semmelweis University, NKFIH-4300-1/2017-NKP_17 and OTKA K116538.

Additional Information

Supervisor: Árpád Dobolyi
E-mail address: dobolyi.arpad@med.semmelweis-univ.hu

Bemutatás módja

Szóbeli

Kind

Szabad

Status

elfogadva

Accepted presentation method

szóbeli

Előadás fájl jóváhagyás

nem rendelkezett róla

Előadó

4069

Start

16:45

End

17:00

Authors (legacy)

Dávid Keller1, Tamás Láng1, Melinda Cservenák2, Emese A. Fazekas2, Arpád Dobolyi1,2
1Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest
2MTA-ELTE Laboratory of Molecular and Systems Neurobiology, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, Eötvös Loránd University and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest