Evolutionary conserved neural signature of early life stress affects animal social competence.

ABSTRACT: In vertebrates, the early social environment can persistently influence behaviour and social competence later in life. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying variation in animal social competence are largely unknown. In rats, high-quality maternal care causes an upregulation of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors (gr) and reduces offspring stress responsiveness. This identifies gr regulation as a candidate mechanism for maintaining variation in animal social competence. We tested this hypothesis in a highly social cichlid fish, Neolamprologus pulcher, reared with or without caring parents. We find that the molecular pathway translating early social experience into later-life alterations of the stress axis is homologous across vertebrates: fish reared with parent

SUBMITTER: Nyman C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5805939 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature