Hypothalamic vasopressin neural densities are higher in male Mongolian gerbils after separation from a pair bond partner and may facilitate behavior to form a new bond.

Although pair bonding has been studied for several decades, only somewhat recently have researchers began studying the neural consequences of separation from a pair bond partner. Here we examined the impact of partner separation on the socially monogamous Mongolian gerbil. Using a within-subjects design, we assessed nonsocial, nonreproductive, and reproductive behavior in male gerbils pre- and post- either 4 weeks of cohabitation with or separation from a pair bond partner. We then conducted an immediate early gene study to examine the influence of partner separation on hypothalamic oxytocin and vasopressin neural responses to interactions with a novel, opposite-sex conspecific. Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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B A Fricker, J Jiang, C J Esquilin-Rodriguez, M L Dowling, A M Kelly. Hypothalamic vasopressin neural densities are higher in male Mongolian gerbils after separation from a pair bond partner and may facilitate behavior to form a new bond. Behavioural brain research. 2024 Sep 13;473:115181

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PMID: 39117148

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