Midbrain neurons regulate the production of courtship squeaks in female mice

Optogenetic activation of courtship squeak-TRAPed neurons in the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) elicits squeaks in female mice, and their ablation blocks courtship squeak production.

• Why it matters: Brain circuits that selectively enable different vocalization types are unclear, especially for squeaks, despite PAG neurons being known to regulate ultrasonic vocalizations.
• What they did: Using TRAP2 activity-dependent labeling, the team identified PAG neurons active during courtship squeaks in female mice, then applied optogenetic activation or ablation and tested effects on courtship and footshock-elicited vocalizations.
• The result: Ablating courtship squeak-TRAPed PAG neurons blocked courtship squeaks without changing non-vocal courtship behaviors, while footshock-elicited squeaks were unaffected; non-selective PAG ablation attenuated but did not block footshock-elicited squeaks.

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