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Increased GABAA-dependent chloride uptake in mice selectively bred for low aggressive behavior
E M Weerts1, L G Miller, K E Hood
1Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155.
Psychopharmacology
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Selective breeding altered mouse aggression, impacting GABA receptor function and benzodiazepine responses. Low-aggressive mice showed increased GABA uptake and different reactions to drugs compared to high-aggressive mice.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Genetics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Selective breeding can modify complex behaviors like aggression.
- GABAergic systems and benzodiazepine receptors are implicated in regulating behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how selective breeding for aggression affects GABA-dependent chloride uptake and responses to benzodiazepines.
- To compare the neurochemical and behavioral profiles of mice bred for high and low aggression.
Main Methods:
- Pharmacological and biochemical analyses were conducted on three lines of ICR mice: selectively bred for high aggression, low aggression, and unselected controls.
- Behavioral assays involved dyadic confrontations, and neurochemical assays measured GABA-dependent chloride uptake and [3H]Ro-15-1788 binding.
Main Results:
- Low-aggressive mice exhibited more exploratory and social behaviors than high-aggressive mice.
- Benzodiazepine treatment (chlordiazepoxide) differentially affected behavior and motor activity across the lines.
- Altered GABA-dependent chloride uptake and [3H]Ro-15-1788 uptake were observed in the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, and hippocampus of the selectively bred lines.
Conclusions:
- Selective breeding for aggression significantly impacts GABAergic neurotransmission and benzodiazepine receptor function.
- These neurobiological changes correlate with distinct behavioral phenotypes and differential drug responses in mice.
- Findings suggest a genetic basis for aggression that is linked to the GABA-A receptor complex.