Fan Yanzhu, Lu Lidi, Ge Shaoxiang, Wu Yue, Wang Zhiyue, Qing Tao, Shi Suxin, Fang Guangzhan
Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.23 Qunxian Nan Street, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, China.
Commun Biol. 2025 Aug 5;8(1):1158. doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-08598-4.
Social hierarchy serves as a fundamental organizational mechanism within most animal societies, however, the neural mechanisms governing dominance hierarchies remain inadequately understood. Considering that GABAergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) exert substantial inhibitory control over brain activity, we hypothesized that these neurons play a pivotal role in regulating social hierarchy. To test this, we employed a combination of optogenetics, chemogenetics, fiber photometry, and behavioral assays in mice to elucidate the functional contributions of these neurons. Our results revealed a biphasic activity pattern of DRN GABAergic neurons, characterized by increased firing during retreats and decreased firing during the initiation of effortful behaviors in the tube test. Furthermore, activation of these neurons led to an increase in the number of retreats and a reduction in social rank, while inhibition of these neurons produced the opposite effects. These findings elucidate the bidirectional regulatory role of DRN GABAergic neurons in social hierarchy.
社会等级制度是大多数动物社会中的一种基本组织机制，然而，支配等级制度的神经机制仍未得到充分理解。鉴于中缝背核（DRN）中的γ-氨基丁酸能神经元对大脑活动施加实质性的抑制控制，我们推测这些神经元在调节社会等级制度中起关键作用。为了验证这一点，我们在小鼠中采用了光遗传学、化学遗传学、光纤光度法和行为分析相结合的方法，以阐明这些神经元的功能作用。我们的结果揭示了DRNγ-氨基丁酸能神经元的双相活动模式，其特征是在管试验中撤退期间放电增加，而在费力行为开始时放电减少。此外，激活这些神经元会导致撤退次数增加和社会等级降低，而抑制这些神经元则会产生相反的效果。这些发现阐明了DRNγ-氨基丁酸能神经元在社会等级制度中的双向调节作用。
