Cited by 628Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorAnimal Behavior and ReproductionNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Enhanced partner preference in a promiscuous species by manipulating the expression of a single gene.

Lim, Miranda M., Wang, Zuoxin, Olazábal, Daniel E., Ren, Xianghui, Terwilliger, Ernest F., Young, Larry J.·2004·Nature

Abstract

The molecular mechanisms underlying the evolution of complex behaviour are poorly understood. The mammalian genus Microtus provides an excellent model for investigating the evolution of social behaviour. Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) exhibit a monogamous social structure in nature, whereas closely related meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) are solitary and polygamous. In male prairie voles, both vasopressin and dopamine act in the ventral forebrain to regulate selective affiliation between adult mates, known as pair bond formation, as assessed by partner preference in the laboratory. The vasopressin V1a receptor (V1aR) is expressed at higher levels in the ventral forebrain of monogamous than in promiscuous vole species, whereas dopamine receptor distribution is relatively conserved between species. Here we substantially increase partner preference formation in the socially promiscuous meadow vole by using viral vector V1aR gene transfer into the ventral forebrain. We show that a change in the expression of a single gene in the larger context of pre-existing genetic and neural circuits can profoundly alter social behaviour, providing a potential molecular mechanism for the rapid evolution of complex social behaviour.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nature02539

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  • Only 37% of couples claim to be very happy in their marriage.

    “While achieving relationship satisfaction is a primary goal for most individuals, only 37% of couples claim to be very happy in their marriage [24].”
  • Pair-bonded prairie voles spend more time with their partner than with a stranger, whereas non-monogamous meadow voles spend little time interacting with their partner or stranger.

    “Pair-bonded prairie voles spend more time with their partner than with the stranger, whereas non-monogamous meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) spend little time interacting with their partner or stranger [138].”
  • Viral-mediated increases in VP AVPR1a expression induce partner preferences and increase affiliative behaviors in sexually naïve male prairie voles and also lead to partner preference formation in non-monogamous meadow voles.

    “Conversely, viral-mediated increases in VP AVPR1a expression induce partner preferences and increase affiliative behaviors in male prairie voles that are sexually naïve and, interestingly, also lead to partner preference formation in non-monogamous meadow voles [138,146].”
  • Over-expressing the gene encoding the prairie vole AVPR1A, Avpr1a, in the ventral pallidum of male meadow voles using viral vector-mediated gene transfer results in the ability of this promiscuous species to display partner preferences.

    “Over-expressing the gene encoding the prairie vole AVPR1A, Avpr1a, in the ventral pallidum of male meadow voles using viral vector-mediated gene transfer results in the ability of this promiscuous species to display partner preferences [23].”
  • Viral-mediated Avpr1a receptor overexpression studies show that species differences in Avpr1a expression mediate species differences in social behavior, and variation in Avpr1a expression in the brain is related to microsatellite diversity in the gene's 5' flanking region.

    “Viral-mediated Avpr1a receptor overexpression studies show that species differences in Avpr1a expression mediate species differences in social behavior, and variation in Avpr1a expression in the brain is related to microsatellite diversity in the gene's 5′ flanking region (151-154).”

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Authors
Lim, M. M., Wang, Z., Olazábal, D. E., Ren, X., Terwilliger, E. F., & Young, L. J.
Affiliations
  • Emory University (US)
  • Florida State University (US)
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Young, Larry J.
Venue
Nature
Published
2004-06
Volume
429
Issue
6993
Pages
754-757
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2022927508
Cited by
628
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 32 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 33
FWCI
58.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
mate preferences, pair bonding, vasopressin V1a receptor, Microtus pennsylvanicus, Microtus ochrogaster, Microtus, evolution of social behavior, ventral forebrain, dopamine, viral gene delivery, monogamy, polygamy, promiscuity
MeSH terms
Animals, Choice Behavior, Arvicolinae, Female, Male, Pair Bond, Receptors, Dopamine, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Prosencephalon, Receptors, Vasopressin

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