Cholinergic interneurons of the dorsomedial striatum mediate winner-loser effects on social hierarchy dynamics in male mice.

ABSTRACT: Establishing a new social hierarchy involves flexible behavior in deciding whether to be a winner or loser during competitions. The neural circuits underlying such flexible behavior have yet to be fully understood, but previous research indicates that cholinergic interneurons in the dorsomedial striatum play a role in behavioral flexibility. We found, by a series of dominance tube tests, that losing-when dominant mice were defeated by equally ranked mice from another cage-led to decreased social rank in their home cage. Conversely, winning-by initially subordinate mice-led to increased ranking in the home cage social hierarchy. The loser effect on subsequent behavior in dominant mice was reduced after selective lesions of the cholinergic interneurons of the dorsomedial striatum. We suggest

SUBMITTER: Hsu MT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12538104 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature