scholarly journals The Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster): An Animal Model for Behavioral Neuroendocrine Research on Pair Bonding

ILAR Journal ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Aragona ◽  
Z. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Prairie Vole ◽  
Microtus Ochrogaster ◽  
Pair Bonding

Nitrogen Requirements of the Adult Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster)

1998 ◽  
Vol 140 (2) ◽  
pp. 387-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen S. Ditchkoff ◽  
Chad S. Boyd ◽  
Edgar R. Welch ◽  
Joshua B. Raglin ◽  
Robert L. Lochmiller
Keyword(s):  
Prairie Vole ◽  
Microtus Ochrogaster

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF FEMALE IMMIGRANTS ON DEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF PRAIRIE VOLE (MICROTUS OCHROGASTER) POPULATIONS

2004 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 781-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Kirk Lin ◽  
Loren D. Hayes ◽  
Nancy G. Solomon
Keyword(s):  
Social Organization ◽  
Prairie Vole ◽  
Microtus Ochrogaster ◽  
Female Immigrants

Sex and species differences in plasma oxytocin using an enzyme immunoassay

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (8) ◽  
pp. 1194-1200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin M Kramer ◽  
Bruce S Cushing ◽  
C Sue Carter ◽  
Julie Wu ◽  
Mary Ann Ottinger
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Immunoassay ◽  
Species Differences ◽  
Social Bonds ◽  
Prairie Vole ◽  
Microtus Ochrogaster ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
As Species ◽  
Neuropeptide Hormone ◽  
And Gender ◽  
And Behavior

The neuropeptide hormone oxytocin (OT) is released peripherally and centrally and has been implicated in both physiology and behavior, especially sociosexual behaviors. Knowledge of OT levels in blood or other sources would be useful but these are rarely reported. Radioimmunoassay following extraction is the most commonly used method for measuring OT but is not ideal for use in small mammals in which blood volumes and concentrations of OT are low. Here we report a chemical and biological validation for a commercially available enzyme immunoassay for OT in unextracted plasma. In addition, comparisons of OT were made across species to allow comparison of the monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster (Wagner, 1842)) to the polygynous Sprague Dawley rat. These species were chosen because OT plays a role in the formation of social bonds and we predicted that the highly social prairie vole would have higher plasma OT than the less social rat. Results of this comparison confirmed our hypothesis. Further, OT was significantly higher in females than in males in both species. Our results indicate that this enzyme immunoassay can be used to assay plasma OT in rodents and that the predicted correlations exist between plasma OT and gender as well as species-typical social behavior.

Microtus ochrogaster (Prairie vole)

1971 ◽  
pp. 113-115
Author(s):  
T. C. Hsu ◽  
Kurt Benirschke
Keyword(s):  
Prairie Vole ◽  
Microtus Ochrogaster

A Comparison of the Maternal Care of Females within Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster) Communal Groups

Ethology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 113 (6) ◽  
pp. 543-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loren D. Hayes ◽  
Nancy G. Solomon
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Care ◽  
Prairie Vole ◽  
Microtus Ochrogaster

Social Organization and Mating System of the Prairie Vole, Microtus Ochrogaster

1990 ◽  
pp. 69-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lowell L. Getz ◽  
Betty McGuire ◽  
Joyce Hofmann ◽  
Theresa Pizzuto ◽  
Barbara Frase
Keyword(s):  
Mating System ◽  
Social Organization ◽  
Prairie Vole ◽  
Microtus Ochrogaster

scholarly journals Effects of Mating and Social Exposure on Cell Proliferation in the Adult Male Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster)

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
A. E. Castro ◽  
L. J. Young ◽  
F. J. Camacho ◽  
R. G. Paredes ◽  
N. F. Diaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Bond Formation ◽  
Precursor Cells ◽  
Pair Bond ◽  
Microtus Ochrogaster ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Pair Bonding ◽  
Social Exposure ◽  
Neuron Precursor

Microtus ochrogaster is a rodent with a monogamous reproductive strategy characterized by strong pair bond formation after 6 h of mating. Here, we determine whether mating-induced pair bonding increases cell proliferation in the subventricular zone (SVZ), rostral migratory stream (RMS), and dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus in male voles. Males were assigned to one of the four groups: (1) control: males were placed alone in a clean cage; (2) social exposure to a female (SE m/f): males that could see, hear, and smell a sexually receptive female but where physical contact was not possible, because the animals were separated by an acrylic screen with small holes; (3) social exposure to a male (SE m/m): same as group 2 but males were exposed to another male without physical contact; and (4) social cohabitation with mating (SCM): males that mated freely with a receptive female for 6 h. This procedure leads to pair bond formation. Groups 2 and 3 were controls for social interaction. Male prairie voles were injected with 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) during the behavioral tests and were sacrificed 48 h later. Brains were processed to identify the new cells (BrdU-positive) and neuron precursor cells (neuroblasts). Our principal findings are that in the dorsal region of the SVZ, SCM and SE m/f and m/m increase the percentage of neuron precursor cells. In the anterior region of the RMS, SE m/f decreases the percentage of neuron precursor cells, and in the medial region SE m/f and m/m decrease the number of new cells and neuron precursor cells. In the infrapyramidal blade of the subgranular zone of the DG, SE m/m and SCM increase the number of new neuron precursor cells and SE m/m increases the percentage of these neurons. Our data suggests that social interaction, as well as sexual stimulation, leads to pair bonding in male voles modulating cell proliferation and differentiation to neuronal precursor cells at the SVZ, RMS, and DG.

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