Synapsin IIb as a functional marker of submissive behavior

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Behavioral Genetics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Dominance and submissiveness are critical components of social hierarchies.
• Understanding the genetic underpinnings of these behaviors is crucial for comprehending social dynamics and related neurological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify candidate genes associated with dominant and submissive behaviors in mice.
• To investigate the role of Synapsin II isoform b (Syn IIb) in mediating submissiveness.

Main Methods:

• Selective breeding of mice based on social interaction tests.
• Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses.
• Molecular, behavioral, and pharmacological assessments, including SSRI (Paroxetine) treatment.

Main Results:

• Constitutive upregulation of Synapsin II isoform b (Syn IIb) was observed in the hippocampus and striatum of submissive mice.
• Reduced submissive behavior post-mating/delivery correlated with decreased Syn IIb expression.
• Paroxetine treatment, which reduced submissiveness, also led to significantly decreased Syn IIb expression.

Conclusions:

• Synapsin II isoform b (Syn IIb) expression is strongly linked to submissive behavior in mice.
• Syn IIb may play a significant role in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying depressive-like behavioral abnormalities associated with submissiveness.