Fear Conditioning by Proxy: The Role of High Affinity Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors
Observational fear-learning studies in genetically modified animals enable the investigation of the mechanisms underlying the social transmission of fear-related information. Here, we used a three-day protocol to examine fear conditioning by proxy (FCbP) in wild-type mice (C57BL/6J) and mice lacking...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/20/15143 |
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| author | Zinovia Stavroula Chalkea Danai Papavranoussi-Daponte Alexia Polissidis Marinos Kampisioulis Marina Pagaki-Skaliora Eleni Konsolaki Irini Skaliora |
| author_facet | Zinovia Stavroula Chalkea Danai Papavranoussi-Daponte Alexia Polissidis Marinos Kampisioulis Marina Pagaki-Skaliora Eleni Konsolaki Irini Skaliora |
| author_sort | Zinovia Stavroula Chalkea |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Observational fear-learning studies in genetically modified animals enable the investigation of the mechanisms underlying the social transmission of fear-related information. Here, we used a three-day protocol to examine fear conditioning by proxy (FCbP) in wild-type mice (C57BL/6J) and mice lacking the β2-subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). Male animals of both genotypes were exposed to a previously fear-conditioned (FC) cage mate during the presentation of the conditioned stimulus (CS, tone). On the following day, observer (FCbP) mice were tested for fear reactions to the tone: none of the β2-KO mice froze to the stimulus, while 30% of the wild-type mice expressed significant freezing. An investigation of the possible factors that predicted the fear response revealed that only wild-type mice that exhibited enhanced and more flexible social interaction with the FC cage mate during tone presentations (Day 2) expressed fear toward the CS (Day-3). Our results indicate that (i) FCbP is possible in mice; (ii) the social transmission of fear depends on the interaction pattern between animals during the FCbP session and (iii) β2-KO mice display a more rigid interaction pattern compared to wild-type mice and are unable to acquire such information. These data suggest that β2-nAChRs influence observational fear learning indirectly through their effect on social behaviour. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:12:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-67e0dbb9ea5b441bb52e96f50c609eb8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:12:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-67e0dbb9ea5b441bb52e96f50c609eb82023-11-19T16:42:23ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672023-10-0124201514310.3390/ijms242015143Fear Conditioning by Proxy: The Role of High Affinity Nicotinic Acetylcholine ReceptorsZinovia Stavroula Chalkea0Danai Papavranoussi-Daponte1Alexia Polissidis2Marinos Kampisioulis3Marina Pagaki-Skaliora4Eleni Konsolaki5Irini Skaliora6Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, GreeceCenter of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, GreeceAmerican College of Greece Research Center (ACG-RC), 15342 Athens, GreeceCenter of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, GreeceUniversity of York Medical School, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UKPsychology Department, Deree-The American College of Greece, 15342 Athens, GreeceCenter of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, GreeceObservational fear-learning studies in genetically modified animals enable the investigation of the mechanisms underlying the social transmission of fear-related information. Here, we used a three-day protocol to examine fear conditioning by proxy (FCbP) in wild-type mice (C57BL/6J) and mice lacking the β2-subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). Male animals of both genotypes were exposed to a previously fear-conditioned (FC) cage mate during the presentation of the conditioned stimulus (CS, tone). On the following day, observer (FCbP) mice were tested for fear reactions to the tone: none of the β2-KO mice froze to the stimulus, while 30% of the wild-type mice expressed significant freezing. An investigation of the possible factors that predicted the fear response revealed that only wild-type mice that exhibited enhanced and more flexible social interaction with the FC cage mate during tone presentations (Day 2) expressed fear toward the CS (Day-3). Our results indicate that (i) FCbP is possible in mice; (ii) the social transmission of fear depends on the interaction pattern between animals during the FCbP session and (iii) β2-KO mice display a more rigid interaction pattern compared to wild-type mice and are unable to acquire such information. These data suggest that β2-nAChRs influence observational fear learning indirectly through their effect on social behaviour.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/20/15143β2 nicotinic receptorscholinergic systemsocial interactionflexible behaviourindividual variationmouse models |
| spellingShingle | Zinovia Stavroula Chalkea Danai Papavranoussi-Daponte Alexia Polissidis Marinos Kampisioulis Marina Pagaki-Skaliora Eleni Konsolaki Irini Skaliora Fear Conditioning by Proxy: The Role of High Affinity Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors International Journal of Molecular Sciences β2 nicotinic receptors cholinergic system social interaction flexible behaviour individual variation mouse models |
| title | Fear Conditioning by Proxy: The Role of High Affinity Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors |
| title_full | Fear Conditioning by Proxy: The Role of High Affinity Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors |
| title_fullStr | Fear Conditioning by Proxy: The Role of High Affinity Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fear Conditioning by Proxy: The Role of High Affinity Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors |
| title_short | Fear Conditioning by Proxy: The Role of High Affinity Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors |
| title_sort | fear conditioning by proxy the role of high affinity nicotinic acetylcholine receptors |
| topic | β2 nicotinic receptors cholinergic system social interaction flexible behaviour individual variation mouse models |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/20/15143 |
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