Variation in brain arginine vasotocin (AVT) and isotocin (IT) levels with reproductive stage and social status in males of three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)

Kleszczyńska, Agnieszka; Sokołowska, Ewa; Kulczykowska, Ewa

doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2011.11.022

Cited by 78 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…After the novel arena test, a mirror was placed in the middle of the tank, facing the fish. Mirror tests are often used to study aggression as individuals treat their mirror image as a conspecific that is size and behaviorally matched to the focal individual [e.g., Gallup, 1968;Andrews, 1996] and has been recommended for use in sticklebacks [Peeke et al, 1969;Kleszczynska et al, 2012]. Fish were observed for an additional 10 min, and the initial response (latency to swim aggression test) and the number of times the fish poked/attacked its reflection (number of pokes) were recorded.…”

Section: Novel Arena Testmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Rearing on Behavior, Brain Monoamines, and Gene Expression in Three-Spined Sticklebacks

et al. 2018

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The causes of individual variation in behavior are often not well understood, and potential underlying mechanisms include both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, such as early environmental, physiological, and genetic differences. In an exploratory laboratory study, we raised three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) under 4 different environmental conditions (simulated predator environment, complex environment, variable social environment, and control). We investigated how these manipulations related to behavior, brain physiology, and gene expression later in life, with focus on brain dopamine and serotonin levels, turnover rates, and gene expression. The different rearing environments influenced behavior and gene expression, but did not alter monoamine levels or metabolites. Specifically, compared to control fish, fish exposed to a simulated predator environment tended to be less aggressive, more exploratory, and more neophobic; and fish raised in both complex and variable social environments tended to be less neophobic. Exposure to a simulated predator environment tended to lower expression of dopamine receptor DRD4A, a complex environment increased expression of dopamine receptor DRD1B, while a variable social environment tended to increase serotonin receptor 5-HTR2B and serotonin transporter SLC6A4A expression. Despite both behavior and gene expression varying with early environment, there was no evidence that gene expression mediated the relationship between early environment and behavior. Our results confirm that environmental conditions early in life can affect phenotypic variation. However, the mechanistic pathway of the monoaminergic systems translating early environmental variation into observed behavioral responses was not detected.

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Section: Novel Arena Testmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Rearing on Behavior, Brain Monoamines, and Gene Expression in Three-Spined Sticklebacks

et al. 2018

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“…AVT is involved in osmoregulatory processes (primarily adaptation to hyperosmotic environments because of its antidiuretic role), control of blood pressure and cardiovascular activity, metabolism and stress, reproductive behaviour, brain neurotransmission and pituitary endocrine activity (Warne et al, 2002;Balment et al, 2006;Kulczykowska, 2007). Although many basic questions remain concerning the role of IT, recent studies in fish have demonstrated that IT levels in the brain vary according to reproductive stage, social status and behaviour (Almeida et al, 2012;Kleszczyńska et al, 2012). Both the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic systems are complex and controlled by many external and internal factors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cortisol modulates vasotocinergic and isotocinergic pathways in the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, Linnaeus 1758)

Cádiz

Román-Padilla

Gozdowska

et al. 2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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In the present study, we assessed the responses of the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic systems to chronic stress induced by cortisol administration in the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Pituitary and plasma arginine vasotocin (AVT) and isotocin (IT) levels, as well as hypothalamic pro-vasotocin (pro-VT) and pro-isotocin (pro-IT) mRNA expression levels, were analysed. In addition, the mRNA levels of three receptors, AVTR type V1a2, AVTR type V2 and ITR, were analysed in several target organs associated with the following physiological processes: (i) integration and control (hypothalamus), (ii) metabolism and its control (liver and hypothalamus), (iii) osmoregulation (gills) and (iv) stress response (head kidney). Specimens were injected intraperitoneally with slow-release implants (5 μL g −1 body mass) containing coconut oil alone (control group) or with cortisol (50 μg g −1 body mass; cortisol group). Both AVT and IT synthesis and release were correlated with plasma cortisol values, suggesting a potential interaction between both hormonal systems and cortisol administration. Our results suggest that the activation of hepatic metabolism as well as the hypothalamic control of metabolic processes provide the energy necessary to overcome stress, which could be partly mediated by AVTRs and ITR. Upregulation of branchial AVT and IT receptor expression following cortisol treatment suggests an involvement of the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic systems in the regulation of ion channels/transporters during stressful situations. Finally, changes in AVT and IT receptor mRNA expression in the head kidney suggest these nonapeptides participate in feedback mechanisms that regulate the synthesis/release of cortisol. Our results indicate a relationship between cortisol and both the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic systems during simulated chronic stress in S. aurata.

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“…The level of AR gene expression may also not be the only physiological mechanism mediating winner-loser effects in this species. Neuropeptides such as vasotocin and isotocin are higher in aggressive fish [33,34], and vasopressin receptor (V1aR) binding is enhanced in the ventromedial hypothalamus of hamsters that experience repeated victories [35]. Central administration of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) influences attack frequency and aggressiveness in fish [36], and CRF receptors modulate sensitivity to social defeat in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) [37], perhaps by affecting serotonergic neurotransmission [38].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fighting experience alters brain androgen receptor expression dependent on testosterone status

Earley

Huang

et al. 2014

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Contest decisions are influenced by the outcomes of recent fights (winnerloser effects). Steroid hormones and serotonin are closely associated with aggression and therefore probably also play important roles in mediating winner-loser effects. In mangrove rivulus fish, Kryptolebias marmoratus, individuals with higher testosterone (T), 11-ketotestosterone and cortisol levels are more capable of winning, but titres of these hormones do not directly mediate winner-loser effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of winning/losing experiences on brain expression levels of the receptor genes for androgen (AR), oestrogen a/b (ER a/b ), glucocorticoid (GR) and serotonin (5-HT 1A R). The effect of contest experience on AR gene expression depended on T levels: repeated losses decreased, whereas repeated wins increased AR gene expression in individuals with low T but not in individuals with medium or high T levels. These results lend strong support for AR being involved in mediating winner-loser effects, which, in previous studies, were more detectable in individuals with lower T. Furthermore, the expression levels of ER a/b , 5-HT 1A R and GR genes were higher in individuals that initiated contests against larger opponents than in those that did not. Overall, contest experience, underlying endocrine state and hormone and serotonin receptor expression patterns interacted to modulate contest decisions jointly.

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Variation in brain arginine vasotocin (AVT) and isotocin (IT) levels with reproductive stage and social status in males of three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)

Cited by 78 publications

References 51 publications

The Influence of Rearing on Behavior, Brain Monoamines, and Gene Expression in Three-Spined Sticklebacks

The Influence of Rearing on Behavior, Brain Monoamines, and Gene Expression in Three-Spined Sticklebacks

Cortisol modulates vasotocinergic and isotocinergic pathways in the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, Linnaeus 1758)

Fighting experience alters brain androgen receptor expression dependent on testosterone status

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