RNA-seq of brain tissue from the subventricular zone, dentate gyrus and nucleus accumbens of adult male and female voles undergoing pair bond formation

This study aimed to uncover changes in gene expression in key brain regions associated with social bonding neuroplasticity in adult prairie voles. The experimental workflow involved the following steps: 1. Male (Ma) and female (Fe) prairie voles were subjected to social cohabitation and mating (SCM) conditions for 120 h, with isolated animals serving as controls. 2. RNA was extracted and analyzing RNA from three brain regions crucial for social bonding and neuroplasticity: the subventricular zone (SVZ), dentate gyrus (DG), and nucleus accumbens (NAc). 3. RNA sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes between the SCM and control groups. 4. Gene ontology (GO) and functional enrichment analyses were performed to understand the biological processes involved in pair bonding. 5. Validation of key findings through quantitative PCR and in vitro neurosphere assays using cells isolated from the SVZ. This approach allowed the examination of sex-specific changes in gene expression related to neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and other probable molecular pathways involved in pair bond formation, with potential implications for understanding human relationships and related neuropsychiatric conditions.