Affiliative Behavior Requires Juvenile, But Not Adult Neurogenesis

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1333-11.2011
• Publication Date: 2011-10-05T16:53:29Z
• Authors: Lan Wei; Michael J. Meaney; Ronald S. Duman; Arie Kaffman
• Keywords: Subgranular zone

The capacity to interact with conspecifics is essential for stable social networks, reproduction, and survival in mammals. In rodents, exploration play behavior increase during the juvenile period, suggesting that this timeframe represents an important window socialization. However, cellular molecular mechanisms necessary support developmental process have not been elucidated. Neurogenesis like adults, mainly confined subgranular subventricular zones. Nevertheless, levels of neurogenesis are significantly higher unique functions shared adult neurogenesis. Here we use a transgenic mouse approach allows ablation different phases. We find ablating either or phases altered anxiety memory female mice, demonstrating age-independent function new neurons certain behaviors. Blocking period resulted profound impairment ability these mice other females retrieve pups, without causing gross olfactory deficits. Interestingly, had no effect on This work defines novel role establishing brain circuits socialization, demonstrates make contributions competency mice. Additional needed determine whether zone and/or responsible abnormalities seen after global elimination