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Development and evolution of hidden regulators: selective breeding for an infantile phenotype
1Department of Developmental Psychobiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York 10032, USA. sab9@columbia.edu
Developmental Psychobiology
|October 28, 2005
Summary
Selective breeding of rats based on ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) during maternal separation created distinct High and Low lines. These lines exhibit significant physiological and behavioral differences, offering insights into developmental processes and affective responses.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Behavioral Genetics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Mother-infant separation in rats is a model for studying infant physiology and behavior.
- Selective breeding can reveal how biological systems integrate to form temperamental traits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of selective breeding for ultrasonic vocalization (USV) rates on rat development.
- To understand the recruitment and integration of biological systems in affective responses.
- To explore developmental mechanisms underlying genetic and developmental risk for depression and anxiety.
Main Methods:
- Selective breeding of two rat lines (High and Low USV) based on USV emission rates during maternal separation at postnatal day 10.
- Longitudinal studies to observe physiological and behavioral profiles over the first three weeks of life.
Main Results:
- After multiple generations, the High and Low USV lines displayed widespread and distinct physiological and behavioral differences.
- Selection appears to reorganize developmental processes throughout the postnatal period, not just target a single trait.
Conclusions:
- The High and Low USV rat lines serve as valuable animal models for studying developmental psychopathology.
- These models can elucidate mechanisms of genetic and developmental risk for anxiety and depression syndromes.