Recovery from social isolation requires dopamine in males, but not the autism-related gene nlg3 in either sex

Social isolation causes profound changes in social behaviour in a variety of species. However, the genetic and molecular mechanisms modulating behavioural responses to social isolation and social recovery remain to be elucidated. Here, we quantified the behavioural response of vinegar flies to social isolation using two distinct protocols (social space preference and spontaneous tendencies to form groups). We found that social isolation increased social space and reduced sociability. These effects of social isolation were reversible and could be reduced after 3 days of group housing. Flies with a loss of function of neuroligin3 (ortholog of autism-related neuroligin genes) with known increased social space in a socially enriched environment, were still able to recover from social isolation. We also show that dopamine is needed for a response to social isolation and recovery in males but not in females. Furthermore, only in males, dopamine levels are reduced after isolation and are not r..., Please see Methods in Yost et al., 2024., , This README file was generated on December 21, 2023 by Ryley Yost.

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Title of Dataset: Recovery from social isolation requires dopamine in males, but not the autism-related gene nlg3 in either sex.

2. Author Information
A. Principal Investigator Contact Information (Corresponding Author)
Name: Anne Simon
Institution: Western University
Address: London, ON, Canada
Email:

B. Associate or Co-investigator Contact Information
Name: Ryley Yost
Institution: Western University
Address: London, ON, Canada
Email:

3. Date of data collection (single date, range, approximate date): 2017-2023

4. Geographic location of data collection: London, ON, Canada & Hamilton, ON, Canada

5. Information about funding sources that supported the collection of the data: NSERC DG 05054-2022, NSERC DG 05420-2019.

SHARING/ACCESS INFORMATION

1. Licenses/restrictions placed on the data: None

2. Links to publications that cite or use the d...