The ontogeny of antisocial behavior (ASB) is rooted in complex gene-environment (G×E) interactions. The best-characterized of these interplays occurs between: a) low-activity alleles of the gene encoding monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), the main serotonin-degrading enzyme; and b) child maltreatment. The purpose of this study was to develop the first animal model of this G×E interaction, to help understand the neurobiological mechanisms of ASB and identify novel targets for its therapy. Maoa hypomorphic transgenic mice were exposed to an early-life stress regimen consisting of maternal separation and daily intraperitoneal saline injections and were then compared with their wild-type and non-stressed controls for ASB-related neurobehavioral phenotypes. Maoa hypomorphic mice subjected to stress from postnatal day (PND) 1 through 7 – but not during the second postnatal week - developed overt aggression, social deficits and abnormal stress responses from the fourth week onwards. On PND 8, these mice exhibited low resting heart rate - a well-established premorbid sign of ASB – and a significant and selective up-regulation of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors in the prefrontal cortex. Notably, both aggression and neonatal bradycardia were rescued by the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin (1–3 mg kg−1, IP), as well as the selective 5-HT2A receptor blocker MDL-100,907 (volinanserin, 0.1–0.3 mg kg−1, IP) throughout the first postnatal week. These findings provide the first evidence of a molecular basis of G×E interactions in ASB and point to early-life 5-HT2A receptor activation as a key mechanism for the ontogeny of this condition.
Godar, S.C., Mosher, L.J., Scheggi, S., Devoto, P., Moench, K.M., Strathman, H.J., et al. (2019). Gene-environment interactions in antisocial behavior are mediated by early-life 5-HT2A receptor activation. NEUROPHARMACOLOGY, 159, 1-19 [10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.01.028].
Gene-environment interactions in antisocial behavior are mediated by early-life 5-HT2A receptor activation
Scheggi, Simona;Gambarana, Carla;De Montis, Maria Graziella;
2019-01-01
Abstract
The ontogeny of antisocial behavior (ASB) is rooted in complex gene-environment (G×E) interactions. The best-characterized of these interplays occurs between: a) low-activity alleles of the gene encoding monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), the main serotonin-degrading enzyme; and b) child maltreatment. The purpose of this study was to develop the first animal model of this G×E interaction, to help understand the neurobiological mechanisms of ASB and identify novel targets for its therapy. Maoa hypomorphic transgenic mice were exposed to an early-life stress regimen consisting of maternal separation and daily intraperitoneal saline injections and were then compared with their wild-type and non-stressed controls for ASB-related neurobehavioral phenotypes. Maoa hypomorphic mice subjected to stress from postnatal day (PND) 1 through 7 – but not during the second postnatal week - developed overt aggression, social deficits and abnormal stress responses from the fourth week onwards. On PND 8, these mice exhibited low resting heart rate - a well-established premorbid sign of ASB – and a significant and selective up-regulation of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors in the prefrontal cortex. Notably, both aggression and neonatal bradycardia were rescued by the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin (1–3 mg kg−1, IP), as well as the selective 5-HT2A receptor blocker MDL-100,907 (volinanserin, 0.1–0.3 mg kg−1, IP) throughout the first postnatal week. These findings provide the first evidence of a molecular basis of G×E interactions in ASB and point to early-life 5-HT2A receptor activation as a key mechanism for the ontogeny of this condition.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
Godar 2019.pdf
non disponibili
Tipologia:
PDF editoriale
Licenza:
NON PUBBLICO - Accesso privato/ristretto
Dimensione
4.63 MB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
4.63 MB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri Richiedi una copia |
postprintscheggi1070128.pdf
accesso aperto
Tipologia:
Post-print
Licenza:
Creative commons
Dimensione
8.09 MB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
8.09 MB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri |
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
https://hdl.handle.net/11365/1070155