Sex difference in the mechanisms that modulate social learning in male and female mice: The interaction between dorsal hippocampal d2-type dopamine receptors and gonadal steroid hormones
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Social learning is the ability to learn from conspecifics via social interactions or social observation, and in mice can be tested using the social transmission of food preference (STFP) paradigm. The dopaminergic system, the dorsal hippocampus (HPC), estrogens and progesterone have been implicated in the STFP. Intrahippocampal infusions of D2-type dopamine (DA) receptor antagonist raclopride blocked social learning in female but not male mice, suggesting an involvement of sex hormones. Here, we bilaterally infused raclopride into the dorsal HPC of gonadally intact and gonadectomized male and female adult “observer” CD1 mice prior to a 30-minute social interaction with a recently fed same-sex familiar “demonstrator” that preceded an 8-hour observer choice test. Findings revealed that intrahippocampal raclopride blocked social learning in ovariectomized and castrated mice but not gonadally intact mice. Thus, gonadal steroid hormones interact with dorsal HPC D2-type DA receptors to modulate social learning in male and female mice.