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Research
Zhibin Zhang
Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2090-7999
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This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Density-dependent change in aggressive behavior is essential for regulating the population dynamics of many small rodents, but the underlying neurological mechanisms have not been examined in field conditions. We hypothesized that aggression-associated oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) in specific regions of the brain may be closely related to aggressive behaviors and population changes of small rodents. In this study, we analyzed the associations of OT and AVP expression as well as aggressive behavior with population density of Brandt’s voles in 24 large semi-natural enclosures (0.48 ha for each enclosure) in Inner Mongolia grassland. Then we tested the effects of population density on the OT/AVP system and aggressive behavior in experimentally manipulated populations of Brandt’s voles in the semi-natural enclosures. High density was positively and significantly associated with more aggressive behavior, and increased expression of mRNA and protein of AVP and its receptor, but decreased expression of mRNA and protein of OT and its receptor in specific brain regions of the voles. Our study suggests that OT/AVP systems are important in regulating the density-dependent population dynamics via aggressive behavior of small rodents, and they can be used as indicators of population variation or density-dependent stressors.
Keywords
social stress, aggression behavior, oxytocin (OT), vasopressin (AVP), density-dependency, population regulation, rodent
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CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 22 Mar, 2021
No community comments so far
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 11 Apr, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 05 Apr, 2021
Review #? received
Received 05 Apr, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 26 Mar, 2021
Editor assigned
On 15 Mar, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 15 Mar, 2021
Editor invited
On 15 Mar, 2021
First submitted
On 15 Mar, 2021
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Subject Areas
Animal Science
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This preprint is under consideration at Frontiers in Zoology. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research
Zhibin Zhang
Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2090-7999
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 22 Mar, 2021
No community comments so far
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 11 Apr, 2021
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 05 Apr, 2021
Review #? received
Received 05 Apr, 2021
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 26 Mar, 2021
Editor assigned
On 15 Mar, 2021
Submission checks complete
On 15 Mar, 2021
Editor invited
On 15 Mar, 2021
First submitted
On 15 Mar, 2021
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Animal Science
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Density-dependent change in aggressive behavior is essential for regulating the population dynamics of many small rodents, but the underlying neurological mechanisms have not been examined in field conditions. We hypothesized that aggression-associated oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) in specific regions of the brain may be closely related to aggressive behaviors and population changes of small rodents. In this study, we analyzed the associations of OT and AVP expression as well as aggressive behavior with population density of Brandt’s voles in 24 large semi-natural enclosures (0.48 ha for each enclosure) in Inner Mongolia grassland. Then we tested the effects of population density on the OT/AVP system and aggressive behavior in experimentally manipulated populations of Brandt’s voles in the semi-natural enclosures. High density was positively and significantly associated with more aggressive behavior, and increased expression of mRNA and protein of AVP and its receptor, but decreased expression of mRNA and protein of OT and its receptor in specific brain regions of the voles. Our study suggests that OT/AVP systems are important in regulating the density-dependent population dynamics via aggressive behavior of small rodents, and they can be used as indicators of population variation or density-dependent stressors.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
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