Regulation of Infant Social Behavior by the Hypothalamic Preoptic Region

Authors:

Jeprika Rodriguez, Harris Kaplan, Catherine Dulac

Date Created:

2025-01-01

Course Title:

Professor:

Not specified

About Paper:

Infant mammals depend on social interactions, particularly with We are examining the activity of galanin-expressing neurons, a caregivers, to meetbasicphysiologicalneeds duringthe vulnerable subset of POA cell types that are crucial for social behavior in early stages of life. In mice, this is exhibited in infant-specificadults, by injecting newborn Gal-Cre mice with a Cre-dependent behaviors such as huddling and parent-directed vocalizations. viral vector (AAV9-DIO-GCaMP8S) that expresses the calcium While these behaviors in younger animals are critical for meeting indicator GCaMP exclusively in galanin-positive cells. Then, homeostatic and social needs, the underlying molecular and circuit we implant a fiber optic probe in the POA, assessing real-time mechanisms remain not well understood. The preoptic area (POA) GCaMPfluorescenceinfreelyinteractinginfantmiceduringsocial of the hypothalamus, a region known to be involved in social interactions. These interactions included exposure to distinct behavior in adults, is less studied in infants. In adults, distinctsocial stimuli: the mother, a littermate, an unfamiliar pup, and POA cell types encode specific social cues, but whether similar an unfamiliar adult male. Our findings will further understanding social representations are present in infants is unknown. Our on how infant hypothalamic circuits, compared to adults, integrate goal is to study the neuronal activity in the POA in response to social information to support survival-critical behaviors in early various social stimuli and its mediation in behavior in infant micelife. 8 Harvard-Amgen Scholars Program

Abstract:

Infant mammals depend on social interactions, particularly with We are examining the activity of galanin-expressing neurons, a caregivers, to meetbasicphysiologicalneeds duringthe vulnerable subset of POA cell types that are crucial for social behavior in early stages of life. In mice, this is exhibited in infant-specificadults, by injecting newborn Gal-Cre mice with a Cre-dependent behaviors such as huddling and parent-directed vocalizations. viral vector (AAV9-DIO-GCaMP8S) that expresses the calcium While these behaviors in younger animals are critical for meeting indicator GCaMP exclusively in galanin-positive cells. Then, homeostatic and social needs, the underlying molecular and circuit we implant a fiber optic probe in the POA, assessing real-time mechanisms remain not well understood. The preoptic area (POA) GCaMPfluorescenceinfreelyinteractinginfantmiceduringsocial of the hypothalamus, a region known to be involved in social interactions. These interactions included exposure to distinct behavior in adults, is less studied in infants. In adults, distinctsocial stimuli: the mother, a littermate, an unfamiliar pup, and POA cell types encode specific social cues, but whether similar an unfamiliar adult male. Our findings will further understanding social representations are present in infants is unknown. Our on how infant hypothalamic circuits, compared to adults, integrate goal is to study the neuronal activity in the POA in response to social information to support survival-critical behaviors in early various social stimuli and its mediation in behavior in infant micelife. 8 Harvard-Amgen Scholars Program

Source:

Harvard / Carleton College | Biological Sciences | 2026 / 2025

Topics:

social, infant, behavior, poa, adult, interaction, cell, hypothalamic, preoptic, region, activity, galanin

Co-authors:

@jeprikarodriguez119 , @harriskaplan120 , @catherinedulac121