大鼠同性别社会交往引起主嗅觉系统相关脑区pERK1/2表达变化

Expression of pERK1/2 in the main olfactory system after rats' isosexual social interaction

目的:探讨大鼠同性别社会交往行为脑内pERK1/2的表达与可能作用。方法:采用三箱室社会交往箱检测雄性大鼠同性别社会交往行为,运用免疫组织化学染色观察动物10 min社会交往行为后脑内pERK1/2的表达;采用10%硫酸锌(ZnSO4)滴鼻嗅觉剥夺后观察大鼠同性别社会交往行为以及脑pERK1/2的表达状况。结果:大鼠呈现明显的同性别社会交往偏好;社会交往后,pERK1/2在与主嗅觉系统相关的脑区(如主嗅球、内嗅皮质、梨状皮质等)以及眶额皮质、前扣带皮质等脑区表达明显增加;嗅觉剥夺后大鼠的同性别社会交往行为显著减少,pERK1/2在主嗅觉系统相关脑区表达明显下降。结论:主嗅觉系统参与了雄性大鼠同性别社会交往行为,pERK1/2表达水平变化随着社会交往行为改变而改变,提示ERK1/2信号通路可能参与大鼠同性别社会交往行为。

Objective： To investigate the expression and roles of pERK1/2 during isosexual social interaction in male rats. Methods： We studied the male rat＇s isosexual social interaction using three-chamber social interaction test and the expression of pERK1/2 was examined by immunohistochemistry staining after social interaction test. Further, we observed the isosexual social interaction and the expression of pERK1/2 after alfactory deprivation induced by zinc sulfate treat- ment. Results： All rats preferred the social target side, when faced with the social target side versus the inanimate side. Following the 10 min test, there was a rapidly increase in pERK1/2 expression in the brain, especially the main olfactory epithelial （MOE）-related brain regions. The social preference was abolished after ZnSO4 treatment with a concomitant decrease in pERK1/2 expression in MOE-related brain regions. Conclusion： MOE-related brain regions are involved in male rats＇ isosexual social interaction, the changes of pERK1/2 expression in consistent with the social interaction behav- ior that suggested ERK1/2 signaling pathway might be concerned with isosexual social behaviour.