Authors:

Liam Gaard

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About Paper:

Social anxiety disorder is the most widespread form of anxiety disorder in the United States. Unfortunately, ~40% of affected individuals who seek existing treatments do not respond, making new therapeutic approaches essential. Oxytocin is a well-known mediator of social behaviors, with previous research finding that it can inhibit or enhance social approach and anxiety. We hypothesize oxytocin acts in the mesolimbic dopamine system to promote social approach, whereas oxytocin acts in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) to enhance social anxiety. Previous research has used oxytocin receptor agonists and antagonists to determine how these receptors modulate behavior. Pharmacological manipulations targeted receptors on both axon terminals and cell bodies. To determine the contribution of receptors expressed on cell bodies, will use CRISPR gene editing to knockdown oxytocin receptors locally produced in the BNST in female California mice. This approach allows us to determine the extent to which post-synaptic function change affects behavior. After CRISPR delivery, social behavior will be assessed both before and after social defeat testing. We will determine the effects of CRISPR gene knockdown on social behavior both before and after social stress exposure. These data will provide new insights into how oxytocin receptor modulates social behavior.  p53 and 53BP1 Interactions in C. elegans Simranpreet Gakhal

Source:

UC Davis / Psychology / 2024

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Co-authors:

Liam Gaard