A molecularly distinct cell type in the midbrain regulates intermale aggression behaviors in mice

• DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.19.562724
• Publication Date: 2023-10-20T07:05:18Z
• Authors: Chunyang Li; Cheng Miao; Yao Ge; Jiaxing Wu; Panpan Gao; Songlin Yin; Pei Zhang; Hongbin Yang; Bo Tian; Wenqiang Chen; Xiaoqian Chen

Abstract Background The periaqueductal gray (PAG) is a central hub for regulation of aggression, while little known on the circuitry and molecular mechanisms that govern this regulation. We investigate role distinct cell type, Tachykinin 2 -expressing (Tac2 + ) neurons, located in dorsomedial PAG (dmPAG), modulating aggression mice. Methods combined activity mapping, vivo Ca 2+ recording, chemogenetic pharmacological manipulation, viral-based translating ribosome affinity purification (TRAP) profiling using mouse resident-intruder model. Results reveal dmPAG Tac2 neurons were selectively activated during fighting behaviors. Activation evoked, inhibition or genetic ablation suppressed TRAP revealed behaviors specifically induced enrichment serotonin-associated transcripts to neurons. Last, we validated these findings by delivering agent into reversed behavioral outcomes manipulation. Conclusions identify neuron can regulate aggressive behavior thus suggest target treatment exacerbated populations exhibit high-level violence.