VASOPRESSIN RECEPTORS

Blocking vasopressin 1a receptor (V1aR) in dorsal raphe or lateral habenula impairs social communication in males, but not females

Injections of a highly-specific V1aR antagonist into the lateral habenula (LHb) or dorsal raphe (DR), two targets of sex-different vasopressin, decreased male urine marking toward unfamiliar males, but not toward unfamiliar females. V1aR blockade of the LHb also decreased ultrasonic vocalizations generated in the presence of females. Social investigation, locomotion and aggressive behavior were not altered by V1aR antagonism in either area. Blocking V1aR in the LHb or DR of females had no effect, indicating V1aR action in the DR and LHb drives sex differences in social communication.