Social Regulation of Gene Expression in Threespine Sticklebacks

PLoS One. 2015 Sep 14;10(9):e0137726. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137726. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Identifying genes that are differentially expressed in response to social interactions is informative for understanding the molecular basis of social behavior. To address this question, we described changes in gene expression as a result of differences in the extent of social interactions. We housed threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) females in either group conditions or individually for one week, then measured levels of gene expression in three brain regions using RNA-sequencing. We found that numerous genes in the hindbrain/cerebellum had altered expression in response to group or individual housing. However, relatively few genes were differentially expressed in either the diencephalon or telencephalon. The list of genes upregulated in fish from social groups included many genes related to neural development and cell adhesion as well as genes with functions in sensory signaling, stress, and social and reproductive behavior. The list of genes expressed at higher levels in individually-housed fish included several genes previously identified as regulated by social interactions in other animals. The identified genes are interesting targets for future research on the molecular mechanisms of normal social interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Smegmamorpha / genetics
  • Smegmamorpha / metabolism*
  • Social Behavior*

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the National Science Foundation Division of Integrative Organismal Systems grant IOS 1145866 to AKG and CLP (http://www.nsf.gov/). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.