Amylin-Calcitonin receptor signaling in the medial preoptic area mediates affiliative social behaviors in female mice

Kansai Fukumitsu (), Misato Kaneko, Teppo Maruyama, Chihiro Yoshihara, Arthur J. Huang, Thomas J. McHugh, Shigeyoshi Itohara, Minoru Tanaka and Kumi O. Kuroda ()
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Kansai Fukumitsu: RIKEN Center for Brain Science
Misato Kaneko: RIKEN Center for Brain Science
Teppo Maruyama: RIKEN Center for Brain Science
Chihiro Yoshihara: RIKEN Center for Brain Science
Arthur J. Huang: RIKEN Center for Brain Science
Thomas J. McHugh: RIKEN Center for Brain Science
Shigeyoshi Itohara: RIKEN Center for Brain Science
Minoru Tanaka: Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino
Kumi O. Kuroda: RIKEN Center for Brain Science

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Abstract Social animals actively engage in contact with conspecifics and experience stress upon isolation. However, the neural mechanisms coordinating the sensing and seeking of social contacts are unclear. Here we report that amylin-calcitonin receptor (Calcr) signaling in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) mediates affiliative social contacts among adult female mice. Isolation of females from free social interactions first induces active contact-seeking, then depressive-like behavior, concurrent with a loss of Amylin mRNA expression in the MPOA. Reunion with peers induces physical contacts, activates both amylin- and Calcr-expressing neurons, and leads to a recovery of Amylin mRNA expression. Chemogenetic activation of amylin neurons increases and molecular knockdown of either amylin or Calcr attenuates contact-seeking behavior, respectively. Our data provide evidence in support of a previously postulated origin of social affiliation in mammals.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28131-z

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