Dopaminergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus may modulate social dominance in mice.

ABSTRACT: Social hierarchies are central to the organizational structure of group-living species, shaping individual physiology, behavior, and social interactions. Dopaminergic (DA) systems, particularly within the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), have been linked to motivation and competitive behaviors, yet their region-specific contributions to social dominance remain insufficiently defined. This study investigated the role of VTA and DR DA neurons in regulating social dominance in sexually naïve male C57BL/6J mice. Stable hierarchies were established using the tube test, after which both dominant and subordinate mice exhibited elevated c-Fos expression within the VTA and DR. Notably, dominant mice displayed significantly greater c-Fos activation in DR DA neurons compare

SUBMITTER: Liu YJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12780500 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature