Fig. 3: Selective activation of vmPFC-NAcSh cells during social approach in stress resilient mice. | Nature Communications

Fig. 3: Selective activation of vmPFC-NAcSh cells during social approach in stress resilient mice.

From: Regulation of social interaction in mice by a frontostriatal circuit modulated by established hierarchical relationships

Fig. 3

a Experimental strategy for recording vmPFC-NAcSh terminal activity during open field social interaction (OFSI). Created with BioRender.com. b Representative heatmaps of resilient and susceptible mice during OFSI. c Classification of animals using a social avoidance score (N = 119 animals, 8 experiments). d Stress-susceptible mice spent less time in the social interaction zone compared to other groups. One-way ANOVA (N = 119 animals, 8 experiments), Bonferroni corrected, F(2,116) = 36.08, ****p < 0.0001. Control vs. susceptible t(116) = 7.79, ****p < 0.0001, control vs. resilient, t(116) = 0.82, p > 0.99, susceptible vs. resilient, t(116) = 6.64, ****p < 0.0001. e Heatmap and photometry traces of vmPFC-NAcSh activity in each group during OFSI, each row shows an individual entry into the social interaction zone. Vertical green bars indicate mouse leaving the interaction zone. f As in e, but for a stress susceptible individual. g As in e, but for a stress resilient individual. h Photometry trace of vmPFC-NAcSh activity time-locked to interaction zone entry averaged across all entries and individuals in a given group. i Increased mean amplitude of vmPFC-NAcSh activity in the stress resilient group compared to the stress susceptible and unstressed control groups. Linear mixed-effects model (LMM) (N = group (entries, mice)–resilient (67,10), susceptible (86,19), control (57,13), 5 experiments), resilient vs. control: t(207) = 3.58, ***p = 0.0004; susceptible vs. control: t(207) = 0.11, p = 0.91; resilient vs susceptible t(207) = 3.80, ****p < 0.0001. j Photometry trace of vmPFC-NAcSh activity time-locked to interaction zone entry, but with a novel C57 interaction partner. k Mean amplitude of vmPFC-NAcSh activity during interactions with a novel C57 partner. LMM (N = group (entries, mice)–resilient (19,4), susceptible (35, 10), unstressed control (13,3); 1 experiment), resilient vs. control: t(64) = 0.067, p = 0.947; susceptible vs. control t(64) = –0.057, p = 0.955; resilient vs. susceptible: t(64) = 0.15, p = 0.882. l Photometry trace of vmPFC-NAcSh activity time-locked to interaction zone entry during forced interactions initiated by the CD1 partner mouse. m Mean amplitude of vmPFC-NAcSh activity during forced interactions initiated by the CD1 partner mouse. LMM (N = group (entries, mice)–resilient (31,3), susceptible (60,6), unstressed control (86,8), 1 experiment), resilient vs. control: t(174) = 1.78, p = 0.077; susceptible vs. control t(174) = –0.94, p = 0.35; resilient vs. susceptible t(174) = 0.97, p = 0.33. All error bars presented as mean ± SEM.

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