# Top‐Down Control of Isolation‐Induced Aggression Through mPFC Tac2+ Interneurons

> **NIH NIH F31** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2022 · $36,867

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
As social creatures, social interaction is vital for mammalian health. Prolonged separation from social
environments can result in social isolation stress, which is linked to poor mental health outcomes, including
anxiety, depression, and violence. Despite this, relatively little is known about the neurobiology underlying these
changes induced by social isolation, representing a critical gap in the field. In this proposal, I will investigate the
role of Tachykinin 2-expressing (Tac2+) interneurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in regulating
isolation-induced aggression, through a combination of genetic characterization, cell-type specific functional
manipulations, and in vivo imaging approaches. My preliminary work establishes mPFC Tac2+ neurons as
interneurons and finds isolation-induced aggression in both male and female mice. In Aim 1 I will use an in situ
hybridization assay to investigate the extent to which neuropeptide-encoding genes are expressed in mPFC
Tac2+ interneurons to understand whether these neurons are a homogenous population or can be subdivided
into subpopulations. Then, in Aim 2 I will examine whether the activity of mPFC Tac2+ interneurons or
Tac2/Neurokinin B signaling is necessary for isolation-aggression and will investigate the role of neurokinin B in
this process. Lastly in Aim 3, I will use dual-color in vivo microendoscopic imaging of different colored calcium
indicators expressed in mPFC Tac2+ interneurons and mPFC pyramidal neurons, respectively, to understand
the activity of these neuronal populations during isolation-induced aggression. This project builds off my strong
background in rodent behavior and allows me to gain computational skills for the analysis of behavior and calcium
imaging data. Under the training provided by this fellowship, I will gain the necessary technical skills, knowledge
of my field, and data analysis skills to assist in my transition to a postdoctoral position in systems neuroscience
and achieve my career goal of becoming a professor at a research-intensive institution. Through understanding
the contribution of mPFC Tac2+ interneurons to isolation-induced aggression, this project will further our
understanding of the circuit-level mechanisms that contribute to mental health issues resulting from prolonged
social isolation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10536007
- **Project number:** 1F31MH131359-01
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** Rachel Gatlin
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $36,867
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10536007

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10536007, Top‐Down Control of Isolation‐Induced Aggression Through mPFC Tac2+ Interneurons (1F31MH131359-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10536007. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*