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Differences in aggressive behavior and DNA copy number variants between BALB/cJ and BALB/cByJ substrains
Lady Velez1, Greta Sokoloff, Klaus A Miczek
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, 924 East 57th Street, Room R018, MC 3077, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
Behavior Genetics
|December 25, 2009
Summary
BALB/cJ mice display significantly higher aggression than BALB/cByJ mice. This behavioral difference may stem from identified copy number variants (CNVs) between these mouse substrains.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- BALB/c mouse substrains, such as BALB/cJ and BALB/cByJ, exhibit variations in behavioral traits.
- Aggression levels can differ significantly between genetically similar populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare aggression and emotionality between BALB/cJ and BALB/cByJ male mice.
- To investigate the genetic underpinnings, specifically single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and copy number variants (CNVs), of observed behavioral differences.
Main Methods:
- Resident intruder paradigm to assess aggression.
- Behavioral tests for emotionality and information processing (open field, forced swim, fear conditioning, prepulse inhibition).
- Genomic analysis for SNPs and CNVs between substrains.
Main Results:
- BALB/cJ mice exhibited substantially higher aggression than BALB/cByJ mice.
- Minor differences were noted in other behavioral tests.
- No previously reported SNPs were verified; eleven CNV regions were identified.
Conclusions:
- A significant difference in aggressive behavior exists between BALB/cJ and BALB/cByJ substrains.
- Identified CNVs are potential candidates for underlying the observed aggression disparities.
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