Defensive and offensive behaviours in a Kleefstra syndrome mouse model

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Genetics
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Kleefstra syndrome (KS) is a human genetic disorder characterized by developmental delay, intellectual disability, and autistic features.
• The Ehmt1± mouse model exhibits anxiety, autistic-like traits, and abnormal social interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the social behavior of Ehmt1± mice with unfamiliar conspecifics.
• To determine if Ehmt1± mice display altered aggressive or defensive behaviors in a novel environment.

Main Methods:

• Adult male Ehmt1± and wild-type (WT) mice were paired in a host-visitor setting for 10-minute interaction trials.
• Behavioral observations focused on social interactions, including offensive and defensive actions.

Main Results:

• Ehmt1± mice, when acting as hosts, displayed significant defensive and offensive behaviors, such as attacking and biting.
• In contrast, WT mice interacting with other WT mice did not exhibit these aggressive behaviors.
• When fights occurred between Ehmt1± and WT mice, the Ehmt1± mouse consistently initiated aggressive actions.

Conclusions:

• The Ehmt1± mouse model exhibits heightened aggression and altered social interactions with unfamiliar conspecifics.
• These findings suggest that Ehmt1 gene deficiency contributes to aggressive behavioral phenotypes relevant to Kleefstra syndrome.