Foster Dams Rear Fighters: Strain-Specific Effects of Within-Strain Fostering on Aggressive Behavior in Male Mice

摘要: It is well known that genes and environment interact to produce behavioral phenotypes. One environmental factor with long-term effects on gene transcription behavior maternal care. A classic paradigm for examining care genetic interactions foster pups of one strain dams a different ("between-strain fostering"). In addition, fostering dam the same ("within-strain fostering") used reduce indirect effects, via changes in dams, gestation treatments offspring. Using within-and between-strain we examined contributions genetics/prenatal environment, care, per se, adult aggressive two inbred mouse strains, C57BL/6J (B6) DBA/2J (DBA). We hypothesized males reared by more DBA would attack intruders faster than those B6 dams. Surprisingly, found both methods enhanced behavior, but only mice. Since all offspring are genetically identical, asked if was affected relatedness their pups. fact, caring displayed significantly reduced behaviors. Finally, measured vasopressin corticotrophin releasing hormone mRNA amygdalae or biological Both correlated within-strain fostered mice, not mice sum, have demonstrated laboratory behave differently when rearing own newborn versus from another strain. These differences affect aggression male Avp Crh brain. likely has additional implications other species.