Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


Stetzik_dissertation_2016.pdf (13.09 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

NON-GENOMIC FACTORS IN THE EXPRESSION OF ADULT SOCIAL BEHAVIOR

Stetzik, Lucas
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1473339240391073

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Integrated Bioscience.
Gene x environment interactions can influence the development and expression of social behavior. The early postnatal period is a critical stage when social stimuli have significant organizational effects in the brain that influence the expression of adult social behavior. This study examines the phenotypic plasticity of social behavior in response to the early social environment (ESE), and how it organizes the underlying mechanisms that regulate social behaviors. The focus of this study is three of the major factors that influence the expression of adult social behavior, the neuropeptides: oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) as well as estrogen receptor alpha (ERa). The experiments in this study utilized two behaviorally distinct populations of prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), by crossbreeding and cross-fostering pups from the less social Kansas (KS) population to the more social Illinois (IL) population and vice versa. This was done to determine the influence of the ESE on aggressive/prosocial behavior, and the expression of OT and AVP as well as ERa, in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST), the medial amygdala (MeA) and the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Results from the cross-fostering experiments demonstrate a significant effect of treatment on the adult social behavior and its underlying mechanisms. Specifically, the expression of ERa in the BST (ANOVA F(5,46)= 9.8 P<0.001), and the expression of OT in the PVN (ANOVA F(5,43) = 6.4 P<0.001) in cross-fostered males was similar to the foster population, and significantly different from the birth population. The results of the crossbreeding experiments indicate a sexually dimorphic parent-of-origin effects on the expression of adult social behavior and underlying mechanisms. Specifically, a behavioral parent-of-origin effect was observed in duration time spent during a dyadic encounter test engaging in an aggressive response to prosocial stimuli and incidental contact (Fisher’s PLSD mean diff IK-KI=3.2 P<0.05, mean diff IK-KS=3.2 P<0.05; mean diff IK-IL=1.9, ns)(Fig. 8), and prosocial exploratory sniffing in partner preference tests (paired t test, IK t(19)= -1.9 P<0.005; IL t(26)=-2.1). The neuroanatomy of crossbred male offspring further supports a parent-of-origin effect, specifically with respect to the expression of ERa¿in the PVN (ANOVA F(3,36) =5.6 P<0.005).
Bruce Cushing, PhD (Committee Member)
Qin Liu, PhD (Advisor)
Kevin Kaut, PhD (Committee Member)
Jordan Renna, PhD (Committee Member)
Rolando Ramirez, PhD (Committee Member)
247 p.
Behavioral Sciences; Endocrinology; Neurobiology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Stetzik, L. (2016). NON-GENOMIC FACTORS IN THE EXPRESSION OF ADULT SOCIAL BEHAVIOR [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1473339240391073

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Stetzik, Lucas. NON-GENOMIC FACTORS IN THE EXPRESSION OF ADULT SOCIAL BEHAVIOR. 2016. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1473339240391073.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Stetzik, Lucas. "NON-GENOMIC FACTORS IN THE EXPRESSION OF ADULT SOCIAL BEHAVIOR." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1473339240391073

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

akron1473339240391073
336
© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.