Differential expression of 10 genes in the hypothalamus of two generations of rats selected for a reaction to humans

Individual behavioral differences are due to an interaction of the genotype and the environment. Phenotypic manifestation of aggressive behavior depends on the coordinated expression of gene ensembles. Nonetheless, the identification of these genes and of combinations of their mutual influence on ex...

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Main Authors: N. V. Klimova, I. V. Chadaeva, S. G. Shichevich, R. V. Kozhemyakina
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Vavilov Society of Geneticists and Breeders 2021-04-01
Series:Вавиловский журнал генетики и селекции
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Online Access:https://vavilov.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/2885
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author N. V. Klimova
I. V. Chadaeva
S. G. Shichevich
R. V. Kozhemyakina
author_facet N. V. Klimova
I. V. Chadaeva
S. G. Shichevich
R. V. Kozhemyakina
author_sort N. V. Klimova
collection DOAJ
description Individual behavioral differences are due to an interaction of the genotype and the environment. Phenotypic manifestation of aggressive behavior depends on the coordinated expression of gene ensembles. Nonetheless, the identification of these genes and of combinations of their mutual influence on expression remains a difficult task. Using animal models of aggressive behavior (gray rats that were selected for a reaction to humans; tame and aggressive rat strains), we evaluated the expression of 10 genes potentially associated with aggressiveness according to the literature: Cacna1b, Cacna2d3, Drd2, Egr1, Gad2, Gria2, Mapk1, Nos1, Pomc, and Syn1. To identify the genes most important for the manifestation of aggressiveness, we analyzed the expression of these genes in two generations of rats: 88th and 90th. Assessment of gene expression levels was carried out by real-time PCR in the hypothalamus of tame and aggressive rats. This analysis confirmed that 4 out of the 10 genes differ in expression levels between aggressive rats and tame rats in both generations. Specifically, it was shown that the expression of the Cacna1b, Drd2, Egr1, and Gad2 genes does not differ between the two generations (88th vs 90th) within each strain, but significantly differs between the strains: in the tame rats of both generations, the expression levels of these genes are significantly lower as compared to those in the aggressive rats. Therefore, these genes hold promise for further studies on behavioral characteristics. Thus, we confirmed polygenic causes of phenotypic manifestation of aggressive reactions.
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publisher Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Vavilov Society of Geneticists and Breeders
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spelling doaj-art-e9f11722570c46ebbb942a7ee5979a592025-02-01T09:58:10ZengSiberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Vavilov Society of Geneticists and BreedersВавиловский журнал генетики и селекции2500-32592021-04-0125220821510.18699/VJ21.50-o1150Differential expression of 10 genes in the hypothalamus of two generations of rats selected for a reaction to humansN. V. Klimova0I. V. Chadaeva1S. G. Shichevich2R. V. Kozhemyakina3Institute of Cytology and Genetics of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of SciencesInstitute of Cytology and Genetics of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of SciencesInstitute of Cytology and Genetics of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of SciencesInstitute of Cytology and Genetics of Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of SciencesIndividual behavioral differences are due to an interaction of the genotype and the environment. Phenotypic manifestation of aggressive behavior depends on the coordinated expression of gene ensembles. Nonetheless, the identification of these genes and of combinations of their mutual influence on expression remains a difficult task. Using animal models of aggressive behavior (gray rats that were selected for a reaction to humans; tame and aggressive rat strains), we evaluated the expression of 10 genes potentially associated with aggressiveness according to the literature: Cacna1b, Cacna2d3, Drd2, Egr1, Gad2, Gria2, Mapk1, Nos1, Pomc, and Syn1. To identify the genes most important for the manifestation of aggressiveness, we analyzed the expression of these genes in two generations of rats: 88th and 90th. Assessment of gene expression levels was carried out by real-time PCR in the hypothalamus of tame and aggressive rats. This analysis confirmed that 4 out of the 10 genes differ in expression levels between aggressive rats and tame rats in both generations. Specifically, it was shown that the expression of the Cacna1b, Drd2, Egr1, and Gad2 genes does not differ between the two generations (88th vs 90th) within each strain, but significantly differs between the strains: in the tame rats of both generations, the expression levels of these genes are significantly lower as compared to those in the aggressive rats. Therefore, these genes hold promise for further studies on behavioral characteristics. Thus, we confirmed polygenic causes of phenotypic manifestation of aggressive reactions.https://vavilov.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/2885aggressive behaviortame behaviorgene expressionhypothalamusrats
spellingShingle N. V. Klimova
I. V. Chadaeva
S. G. Shichevich
R. V. Kozhemyakina
Differential expression of 10 genes in the hypothalamus of two generations of rats selected for a reaction to humans
Вавиловский журнал генетики и селекции
aggressive behavior
tame behavior
gene expression
hypothalamus
rats
title Differential expression of 10 genes in the hypothalamus of two generations of rats selected for a reaction to humans
title_full Differential expression of 10 genes in the hypothalamus of two generations of rats selected for a reaction to humans
title_fullStr Differential expression of 10 genes in the hypothalamus of two generations of rats selected for a reaction to humans
title_full_unstemmed Differential expression of 10 genes in the hypothalamus of two generations of rats selected for a reaction to humans
title_short Differential expression of 10 genes in the hypothalamus of two generations of rats selected for a reaction to humans
title_sort differential expression of 10 genes in the hypothalamus of two generations of rats selected for a reaction to humans
topic aggressive behavior
tame behavior
gene expression
hypothalamus
rats
url https://vavilov.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/2885
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