PhD Scientific Days 2026

Neurosciences

Regulation of Social Valence and Aggression by an OTR-Expressing MPOA–VMH Circuit

Előadó neve

Mr. Drahos, Botond

Neptune code

AV7RC1

Előadó munkahelye

Semmelweis University, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology

Előadó telefonszáma

06309313499

Előadó e-mail címe

drahosbotondbendeguz@gmail.com

Az előadás címe

Regulation of Social Valence and Aggression by an OTR-Expressing MPOA–VMH Circuit

Szerző(k) neve és munkahelye

Botond Drahos¹

1: Semmelweis University, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology

Bemutatás módja

Szóbeli

Szekció

Neurosciences

Language of the presentation

English

Preferred session

Neurosciences

Összefoglaló szövege

Introduction: The medial preoptic area (MPOA) of the hypothalamus is a key center for hormonal and social integration, yet its precise role in aggression is less clear. Previously, we found that the posterior intralaminar thalamic nucleus (PIL), particularly neurons containing parathyroid hormone 2 (PTH2), projects to the MPOA to enhance prosocial behavior and mitigate aggression. Another prosocial input the MPOA receives arrives from the oxytocin neurons of the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus.
Aims: This study examines the function of oxytocin receptor (OTR) expressing neurons in the MPOA in the context of regulating social behaviour.
Methods: Male OTR-Cre rats received Cre-dependent viral vectors to express DREADDs or mCherry in OTR positive MPOA neurons. Behavioral effects were assessed through the resident-intruder test following chemogenetic modulation with clozapine-N-oxide (CNO). For circuit-specific manipulation, CNO was delivered locally to the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) through implanted intracerebral cannulae to target MPOA OTR positive terminals.
Results: Anatomical tracing revealed that MPOA OTR neurons project to key regions, including the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) and the medial amygdala (MeA). Double immunolabeling confirmed the presence of PTH2 fiber terminals from the PIL in proximity to these MPOA OTR neurons.
Inhibition of MPOA OTR neurons led to a significant increase in aggression and a decrease in positive valence behaviors. Conversely, stimulation of these neurons promoted prosocial actions.
Furthermore, inhibiting MPOA OTR neurons during social interactions resulted in a significant increase in c-Fos expression in the VMH, consistent with increased VMH activation associated with aggression. Notably, targeted chemogenetic inhibition of the specific MPOA OTR-VMH pathway led to increased aggression and decreased prosocial behaviours.
Conclusion: OTR-positive MPOA neurons likely act as a central hub suppressing aggression by inhibiting the VMH and increasing prosocial behaviors. PTH2-containing PIL neurons may target this population, conveying somatosensory inputs, highlighting the OTR-positive MPOA neurons as a key relay, integrating PIL inputs with oxytocin effects to promote affiliative social behavior.
Funding: NAP3 of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (NAP2022-I-3/2022), NKFIH OTKA K146077.

University

Semmelweis University

Supervisor

Prof. Dr. Árpád Dobolyi, Dr. Láng Tamás

Publication of my abstract

I do not give consent to the publication of my abstract on the website of the congress.

phd.section.field

before finishing undergraduate studies (TDK, MD-PhD)

Kind

Szabad

Status

elfogadva

Accepted presentation method

szóbeli

Előadás fájl jóváhagyás

nem rendelkezett róla

Előadó

9810

Start

15:15

End

15:25