Experience-dependent dopamine modulation of male aggression

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Dai, Bing; Zheng, Bingqin; Dai, Xiuzhi; Cui, Xiaoyang; Yin, Luping; Cai, Jing; Zhuo, Yizhou; Tritsch, Nicolas X.; Zweifel, Larry S.; Li, Yulong; Lin, Dayu
• 署名单位: Peking University; Tsinghua University; University of Washington; University of Washington Seattle; University of Washington; University of Washington Seattle; McGill University
• 刊物名称: Nature
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0028-1828
• DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08459-w
• 发表日期: 2025-03-13
• 关键词: lateral habenula; BEHAVIOR; serotonin; attack; forebrain; DEFENSE; septum; mice

摘要

Numerous studies support the role of dopamine in modulating aggression1,2, but the exact neural mechanisms remain elusive. Here we show that dopaminergic cells in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) can bidirectionally modulate aggression in male mice in an experience-dependent manner. Although VTA dopaminergic cells strongly influence aggression in novice aggressors, they become ineffective in expert aggressors. Furthermore, eliminating dopamine synthesis in the VTA prevents the emergence of aggression in naive mice but leaves aggression intact in expert aggressors. VTA dopamine modulates aggression through the dorsal lateral septum (dLS), a region known for aggression control. Dopamine enables the flow of information from the hippocampus to the dLS by weakening local inhibition in novice aggressors. In expert aggressors, dLS local inhibition naturally weakens, and the ability of dopamine to modulate dLS cells diminishes. Overall, these results reveal a sophisticated role of dopamine in the rise of aggression in adult male mice.