Immunohistochemical images of cFos protein, a marker of neural activity. The number of cFos-expressing cells in the anterior cingulate cortex is increased in mice experienced social interactioin tests. Related to Fig. 1B in Kitagawa et al. (2024)
See details in Kitagawa, et. al. (2024) Biochem Biophys Res Commun.
Kohei Kitagawa, Tomoya Takemoto, Kaoru Seiriki, Atsushi Kasai, Hitoshi Hashimoto, Takanobu Nakazawa (2024) Socially activated neurons in the anterior cingulate cortex are essential for social behavior in mice., Biochemical and biophysical research communications, Volume 726, pp. 150251
Published in 2024 Jun 19 (Electronic publication in June 19, 2024, midnight )
(Abstract) Social behavior, defined as any mode of communication between conspecifics is regulated by a widespread network comprising multiple brain structures. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) serves as a hub region interconnected with several brain regions involved in social behavior. Because the ACC coordinates various behaviors, it is important to focus on a subpopulation of neurons that are potentially involved in social behavior to clarify the precise role of the ACC in social behavior. In this study, we aimed to analyze the roles of a social stimulus-responsive subpopulation of neurons in the ACC in social behavior in mice. We demonstrated that a subpopulation of neurons in the ACC was activated by social stimuli and that silencing the social stimulus-responsive subpopulation of neurons in the ACC significantly impaired social interaction without affecting locomotor activity or anxiety-like behavior. Our current findings highlight the importance of the social stimulus-responsive subpopulation of neurons in the ACC for social behavior and the association between ACC dysfunction and impaired social behavior, which sheds light on therapeutic interventions for psychiatric conditions.