The Research On VCA1 Social Memory Engram Cell Circuits

Social memory,generated by group animals during social interacting with others,is significant to the survival and reproduction of group animals and the maintenance of basic social relations.Nowadays,many neuroscientists believe that engram cells are the basis for memory formation and storage.However,the neural circuits of social memory engram cells and the formation mechanism of social engram cells are still unclear.In this study,we combined wild type mice and tool viruses,immunohistochemical staining,chemical genetics,ethology and other methods to investgate the above issues.We found that social stimulation activates v CA1,LEC,PL and Pir neurons and v CA1 excitatory neurons can project to both PL and Pir regions.Inhibition of v CA1 excitatory neurons by chemogenetic tools can prevent above changes induced by social stimulation.The activity-dependent RAM system viral tool revealed that v CA1 neurons activated by social stimuli could project to the PL and Pir regions,and inhibition of v CA1 neurons activated by social stimuli by chemogenetic tools can prevent the representation of relative social memory.In addition,we found that the dendritic spines of RAM positive neurons activated by social stimulation in v CA1 weakened after 24 hours.In a word,we investigated the neural circuits from v CA1 social memory engram cells to PL and to Pir,and revealed the changes of dendritic spines of RAM positive neurons activated by social stimulation in v CA1 weakened after 24 hours,which provided an important experimental basis and theoretical basis for further study of social engram.