PgmNr P2119: Quantification of behavioral and heritability correlates in prairie voles, a socially monogamous rodent.

Authors:
Andrea Vogel 1,2 ; Lisa McGraw 1


Institutes
1) North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC; 2) W.M. Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, Raleigh, NC.


Abstract:

Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are among the rare mammal species that have monogamous relationships and have become a model system for understanding the neurogenetic basis of social behaviors such as biparental care of young and pair bonding. Studying the strength of the pair-bond can inform researchers about complex mental health disorders with social components, such as autism, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. Although many prairie voles are monogamous, others will engage in extra-pair copulations, and many never form pair bonds at all. To begin to gain an understanding of the genetic basis for behavioral variation in this species, we examined socially-relevant behaviors including anxiety, alloparental care, and aggression against same-sex intruders. Furthermore, pair-bonding is hypothesized to create behavioral changes in the animals, so we examined these behaviors both before and after mating. We have determined that the related behaviors are not correlated with the amount of time spent with a partner, nor are any of the behaviors highly heritable. This experiment establishes the scope of individual variation of pair-bonding, which will be explored in more depth using neurobiology and genetic techniques.