Intracranial mast cells contribute to the control of social behavior in male mice

• Published in: Behavioural brain research 2021-04, Vol.403, p.113143-113143, Article 113143
• Main Authors: Tanioka, Daisuke, Chikahisa, Sachiko, Shimizu, Noriyuki, Shiuchi, Tetsuya, Sakai, Noriaki, Nishino, Seiji, Séi, Hiroyoshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Behavior, Animal - physiology; Brain - cytology; Brain - drug effects; Brain - physiology; Compound 48/80; Intracranium; Male; Mast cell; Mast Cells - drug effects; Mast Cells - physiology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine - pharmacology; Receptors, Serotonin - metabolism; Serotonin; Serotonin - metabolism; Social Behavior
• ISSN: 0166-4328; 1872-7549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113143

•We investigated the role of mast cells (MCs) in social behavior.•MC degranulator-injected male mice showed excessive social behavior.•The MC-depleted male mice exhibited a social deficit.•The MC-depleted male mice reduced serotonin (5-HT) content and 5-HT receptor expression in the brain.•Intracranial MCs may contribute to the regulation of social behavior in the male mice. Mast cells (MCs) exist intracranially and have been reported to affect higher brain functions in rodents. However, the role of MCs in the regulation of emotionality and social behavior is unclear. In the present study, using male mice, we examined the relationship between MCs and social behavior and investigated the underlying mechanisms. Wild-type male mice intraventricularly injected with a degranulator of MCs exhibited a marked increase in a three-chamber sociability test. In addition, removal of MCs in Mast cell-specific Toxin Receptor-mediated Conditional cell Knock out (Mas-TRECK) male mice showed reduced social preference levels in a three-chamber sociability test without other behavioral changes, such as anxiety-like and depression-like behavior. Mas-TRECK male mice also had reduced serotonin content and serotonin receptor expression and increased oxytocin receptor expression in the brain. These results suggested that MCs may contribute to the regulation of social behavior in male mice. This effect may be partially mediated by serotonin derived from MCs in the brain.