Figure 4. Silencing of OxtrCre in the mPFC of female mice results in variations in social preference toward male mice over a six day period.

(A) Schematic diagram showing 4 injection sites of Cre dependent AAV viruses encoding membrane-tethered toxins that block neurotransmission (APC/MPE) or control AAV viruses expressing EGFP. (B) Diagram indicating the social interaction test. After 10min habituation to the apparatus, a subject female mouse is exposed to a Lego (novel object, left panel) and a strange wt male mouse (stranger mouse, right panel) in wire cups for 10 min. (C) Results of the social interaction at 6 consecutive days of testing for four control virus injected OxtrCre female mice (C1–4) and 4 t-toxin virus injected OxtrCre female mice (T1–4). The ratio of exploration of the novel object relative to the stranger male mouse indicated on the Y-axis (Lego cup/Mouse cup). A ratio of 1 indicates equal preference for the Lego and the stranger mouse, whereas values below 1 indicate a preference for the mouse versus the Lego. Control mice (C1–4) prefer interaction with the male stranger mouse on all days of testing. OxtrCre interneuron silenced mice (T1–4) lost their preference for social interaction with the male stranger mouse on certain test days.