The endocrine stress response is linked to one specific locus on chromosome 3 in a mouse model based on extremes in trait anxiety.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is essential to control physiological stress responses in mammals. Its dysfunction is related to several mental disorders, including anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to identify genetic loci underlying the endocrine regulation of the HPA axis.

Method

High (HAB) and low (LAB) anxiety-related behaviour mice were established by selective inbreeding of outbred CD-1 mice to model extremes in trait anxiety. Additionally, HAB vs. LAB mice exhibit comorbid characteristics including a differential corticosterone response upon stress exposure. We crossbred HAB and LAB lines to create F1 and F2 offspring. To identify the contribution of the endocrine phenotypes to the total phenotypic variance, we examined multip

SUBMITTER: Gonik M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3557225 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature