Both D1- and D2-like receptors Contribute to Dopamine-Induced Inhibition of Vocal Production in the Midbrain Periaqueductal Gray of a Teleost Fish

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Both D1- and D2-like receptors Contribute to Dopamine-Induced Inhibition of Vocal Production in the Midbrain Periaqueductal Gray of a Teleost Fish Elizabeth K. Heisler1 and J. Matthew Kittelberger1* 1 Gettysburg College, Department of Biology, United States Studies investigating the neural mechanisms underlying context-dependent social-vocal behavior have used the plainfin midshipman fish Porichthys notatus as a model organism. Territorial male midshipman demonstrate different vocal behaviors depending on social context, producing antagonistic grunts to warn off predators and courtship hums to attract females. The architecture of the vocal-acoustic circuit involved in producing such social vocalizations has been well-characterized, and components of this circuit have been evolutionarily conserved in mammals. The midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) is one structure playing a critical role in vocal production in both midshipman and tetrapod vertebrates, and, in midshipman, PAG activity participates in patterning of vocal output. While neural mechanisms contributing to vocal output in midshipman have been examined at various levels of the vocal circuit, it is unknown what modulates the behavioral shifts apparent when social context is altered. The catecholamine neurotransmitter dopamine has been shown to have broad influences social behavior, reward, and motor control. Furthermore, differential integration of dopamine and neuropeptide function has been implicated in the differential expression of social preference between species of prairie voles. Thus, one hypothesis is that dopamine release in vocal circuits, in response to sensory cues regarding social context, may contribute to shifts in vocal-social output. Consistent with this idea, previous work in our lab has shown that injecting exogenous dopamine focally into the PAG significantly and reversibly inhibits vocal production in an in vivo fictive vocal preparation. Furthermore, tyrosine hydroxylase, an enzyme involved in synthesizing dopamine, is expressed throughout the midshipman vocal circuit, including the PAG. This current study attempts to further elucidate the effects of dopamine and identify which receptors mediate dopamine’s effects on vocal social behavior. We focally injected dopamine, with or without various dopamine antagonists, into the PAG. SCH-23390, sulpiride, and fluphenazine were used to block D1-like receptors, D2-like receptors, and both D1-and D2-like receptors, respectively. Vocal output was elicited by stimulating hypothalamic / preoptic vocal areas and was monitored with an extracellular recording electrode on the vocal occipital nerve. Changes in vocal response probability, response duration, and response latency were investigated. Results show that fluphenazine blocked dopamine-induced inhibition of vocal response probability but did not completely restore it to control levels, while neither sulpiride nor SCH-23390 blocked the dopamine-induced inhibition. This suggests that both D1 and D2 dopamine receptors are involved in shifting among context-dependent vocal behaviors in the midshipman PAG. Acknowledgements Funded by a Gettysburg College Research and Professional Development Grant (JMK). Fluorescent microscopy system funded by a Major Research Instrumentation Grant from the National Science Foundation (Award #0959175). Keywords: Neuromodulation, Plainfin midshipman, Porichthys notatus, Social Behavior, Vocal Communication, Vocal-motor Conference: Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology, College Park. Maryland USA, United States, 5 Aug - 10 Aug, 2012. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation (see alternatives below as well) Topic: Communication Citation: Heisler EK and Kittelberger J (2012). Both D1- and D2-like receptors Contribute to Dopamine-Induced Inhibition of Vocal Production in the Midbrain Periaqueductal Gray of a Teleost Fish. Conference Abstract: Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnbeh.2012.27.00305 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 30 Apr 2012; Published Online: 07 Jul 2012. * Correspondence: Dr. J. Matthew Kittelberger, Gettysburg College, Department of Biology, Gettysburg, PA, 17325, United States, mkittelb@gettysburg.edu Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Elizabeth K Heisler J. Matthew Kittelberger Google Elizabeth K Heisler J. Matthew Kittelberger Google Scholar Elizabeth K Heisler J. Matthew Kittelberger PubMed Elizabeth K Heisler J. 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