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Objective Video-Based Assessment of ADHD-Like Canine Behavior Using Machine Learning. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11102806. [PMID: 34679828 PMCID: PMC8532741 DOI: 10.3390/ani11102806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This paper applies machine learning techniques to propose an objective video-based method for assessing the degree of canine ADHD-like behavior in veterinary consultation room. The method is evaluated using clinical data of dog patients in a veterinary clinic, as well as in a focus group of experts. Abstract Canine ADHD-like behavior is a behavioral problem that often compromises dogs’ well-being, as well as the quality of life of their owners; early diagnosis and clinical intervention are often critical for successful treatment, which usually involves medication and/or behavioral modification. Diagnosis mainly relies on owner reports and some assessment scales, which are subject to subjectivity. This study is the first to propose an objective method for automated assessment of ADHD-like behavior based on video taken in a consultation room. We trained a machine learning classifier to differentiate between dogs clinically treated in the context of ADHD-like behavior and health control group with 81% accuracy; we then used its output to score the degree of exhibited ADHD-like behavior. In a preliminary evaluation in clinical context, in 8 out of 11 patients receiving medical treatment to treat excessive ADHD-like behavior, H-score was reduced. We further discuss the potential applications of the provided artifacts in clinical settings, based on feedback on H-score received from a focus group of four behavior experts.
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Abstract
The domestic dog, as a highly successful domestication model, is well known as a favored human companion. Exploring its domestication history should provide great insight into our understanding of the prehistoric development of human culture and productivity. Furthermore, investigation on the mechanisms underpinning the morphological and behavioral traits associated with canid domestication syndrome is of significance not only for scientific study but also for human medical research. Current development of a multidisciplinary canine genome database, which includes enormous omics data, has substantially improved our understanding of the genetic makeup of dogs. Here, we reviewed recent advances associated with the original history and genetic basis underlying environmental adaptations and phenotypic diversities in domestic dogs, which should provide perspectives on improving the communicative relationship between dogs and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China
| | - Saber Khederzadeh
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, China. E-mail:
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Sacharczuk M, Walczak M, Adamkiewicz E, Walasek A, Ensminger J, Presch M, Jezierski T. Polymorphism of olfactory and neurotransmitters receptor genes in drug and explosives detection dogs can be associated with differences in detection performance. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2019.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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4
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Nagasawa M, Ogawa M, Mogi K, Kikusui T. Intranasal Oxytocin Treatment Increases Eye-Gaze Behavior toward the Owner in Ancient Japanese Dog Breeds. Front Psychol 2017; 8:1624. [PMID: 28983270 PMCID: PMC5613112 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dogs acquired unique cognitive abilities during domestication, which is thought to have contributed to the formation of the human-dog bond. In European breeds, but not in wolves, a dog’s gazing behavior plays an important role in affiliative interactions with humans and stimulates oxytocin secretion in both humans and dogs, which suggests that this interspecies oxytocin and gaze-mediated bonding was also acquired during domestication. In this study, we investigated whether Japanese breeds, which are classified as ancient breeds and are relatively close to wolves genetically, establish a bond with their owners through gazing behavior. The subject dogs were treated with either oxytocin or saline before the starting of the behavioral testing. We also evaluated physiological changes in the owners during mutual gazing by analyzing their heart rate variability (HRV) and subsequent urinary oxytocin levels in both dogs and their owners. We found that oxytocin treatment enhanced the gazing behavior of Japanese dogs and increased their owners’ urinary oxytocin levels, as was seen with European breeds; however, the measured durations of skin contact and proximity to their owners were relatively low. In the owners’ HRV readings, inter-beat (R-R) intervals (RRI), the standard deviation of normal to normal inter-beat (R-R) intervals (SDNN), and the root mean square of successive heartbeat interval differences (RMSSD) were lower when the dogs were treated with oxytocin compared with saline. Furthermore, the owners of female dogs showed lower SDNN than the owners of male dogs. These results suggest that the owners of female Japanese dogs exhibit more tension during interactions, and apart from gazing behavior, the dogs may show sex differences in their interactions with humans as well. They also suggest that Japanese dogs use eye-gazing as an attachment behavior toward humans similar to European breeds; however, there is a disparity between the dog sexes when it comes to the owners’ oxytocin secretion. Japanese dogs also showed different attachment behaviors from both European breeds and wolves, and they likely use additional strategies to substitute gaze when forming the human–dog bond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miho Nagasawa
- Companion Animal Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu UniversitySagamihara, Japan
| | - Misato Ogawa
- Companion Animal Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu UniversitySagamihara, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Mogi
- Companion Animal Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu UniversitySagamihara, Japan
| | - Takefumi Kikusui
- Companion Animal Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu UniversitySagamihara, Japan
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5
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Abstract
When individuals are exposed to stressful environmental challenges, the response varies widely in one or more of three components: psychology, behavior and physiology. This variability among individuals can be defined as temperament. In recent years, an increasing large body of evidence suggests that the dimensions of temperament, as well as personality, psychological disorders and behavioral traits, are influenced by genetic factors, and much of the variation appears to involve variation in genes or gene polymorphisms in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and the behavior-controlling neurotransmitter networks. Here, we review our current understanding of the probabilistic impact of a number of candidate gene polymorphisms that control temperament, psychological disorders and behavioral traits in animals and human, including the gene polymorphisms related to corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) production and adrenal cortisol production involved in the HPA axis, and a large number of gene polymorphisms in the dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmitter networks. It will very likely to assist in diagnosis and treatment of human relevant disorders, and provide useful contributions to our understanding of evolution, welfare and conservation, for animals in the wild and in production systems. Additionally, investigations of gene-gene and gene-environment complex interactions in humans and animals need further clear illustration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Qiu
- a College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University , Chong Qing , PR China.,b UWA Institute of Agriculture and School of Animal Biology M082, Faculty of Sciences , University of Western Australia , Crawley , WA , Australia
| | - Graeme B Martin
- b UWA Institute of Agriculture and School of Animal Biology M082, Faculty of Sciences , University of Western Australia , Crawley , WA , Australia.,c Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Dominique Blache
- b UWA Institute of Agriculture and School of Animal Biology M082, Faculty of Sciences , University of Western Australia , Crawley , WA , Australia
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Bence M, Marx P, Szantai E, Kubinyi E, Ronai Z, Banlaki Z. Lessons from the canine Oxtr gene: populations, variants and functional aspects. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2016; 16:427-438. [PMID: 27860243 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Revised: 07/23/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin receptor (OXTR) acts as a key behavioral modulator of the central nervous system, affecting social behavior, stress, affiliation and cognitive functions. Variants of the Oxtr gene are known to influence behavior both in animals and humans; however, canine Oxtr polymorphisms are less characterized in terms of possible relevance to function, selection criteria in breeding and domestication. In this report, we provide a detailed characterization of common variants of the canine Oxtr gene. In particular (1) novel polymorphisms were identified by direct sequencing of wolf and dog samples, (2) allelic distributions and pairwise linkage disequilibrium patterns of several canine populations were compared, (3) neighbor joining (NJ) tree based on common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was constructed, (4) mRNA expression features were assessed, (5) a novel splice variant was detected and (6) in vitro functional assays were performed. Results indicate marked differences regarding Oxtr variations between purebred dogs of different breeds, free-ranging dog populations, wolf subspecies and golden jackals. This, together with existence of explicitly dog-specific alleles and data obtained from the NJ tree implies that Oxtr could indeed have been a target gene during domestication and selection for human preferred aspects of temperament and social behavior. This assumption is further supported by the present observations on gene expression patterns within the brain and luciferase reporter experiments, providing a molecular level link between certain canine Oxtr polymorphisms and differences in nervous system function and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bence
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Comparative Ethology Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - P Marx
- Department of Measurement and Information Systems, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - E Szantai
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - E Kubinyi
- Comparative Ethology Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Ethology, Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Z Ronai
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Z Banlaki
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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7
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Cagan A, Blass T. Identification of genomic variants putatively targeted by selection during dog domestication. BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:10. [PMID: 26754411 PMCID: PMC4710014 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-015-0579-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dogs [Canis lupus familiaris] were the first animal species to be domesticated and continue to occupy an important place in human societies. Recent studies have begun to reveal when and where dog domestication occurred. While much progress has been made in identifying the genetic basis of phenotypic differences between dog breeds we still know relatively little about the genetic changes underlying the phenotypes that differentiate all dogs from their wild progenitors, wolves [Canis lupus]. In particular, dogs generally show reduced aggression and fear towards humans compared to wolves. Therefore, selection for tameness was likely a necessary prerequisite for dog domestication. With the increasing availability of whole-genome sequence data it is possible to try and directly identify the genetic variants contributing to the phenotypic differences between dogs and wolves. RESULTS We analyse the largest available database of genome-wide polymorphism data in a global sample of dogs 69 and wolves 7. We perform a scan to identify regions of the genome that are highly differentiated between dogs and wolves. We identify putatively functional genomic variants that are segregating or at high frequency [> = 0.75 Fst] for alternative alleles between dogs and wolves. A biological pathways analysis of the genes containing these variants suggests that there has been selection on the 'adrenaline and noradrenaline biosynthesis pathway', well known for its involvement in the fight-or-flight response. We identify 11 genes with putatively functional variants fixed for alternative alleles between dogs and wolves. The segregating variants in these genes are strong candidates for having been targets of selection during early dog domestication. CONCLUSIONS We present the first genome-wide analysis of the different categories of putatively functional variants that are fixed or segregating at high frequency between a global sampling of dogs and wolves. We find evidence that selection has been strongest around non-synonymous variants. Strong selection in the initial stages of dog domestication appears to have occurred on multiple genes involved in the fight-or-flight response, particularly in the catecholamine synthesis pathway. Different alleles in some of these genes have been associated with behavioral differences between modern dog breeds, suggesting an important role for this pathway at multiple stages in the domestication process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Cagan
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Torsten Blass
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
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Genetic Basis Underlying Behavioral Correlation Between Fugu Takifugu rubripes and a Closely Related Species, Takifugu niphobles. Behav Genet 2015; 45:560-72. [PMID: 26067468 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-015-9728-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Correlated suits of behaviors (behavioral syndrome) are commonly observed in both inter- and intraspecific studies. In order to understand the genetic basis of such a correlation between species, we compared ten behaviors classified into five categories (acclimation, feeding, normal swimming, reaction to a novel object and activity in a novel environment) between two pufferfish species, Takifugu rubripes and T. niphobles. The two species showed consistent differences in nine behaviors with a significant correlation among behaviors. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis using second generation hybrids revealed that different sets of small effect QTL are associated with the observed interspecific behavioral disparity. This indicates that correlations in temperament traits between them are governed by many genes with small effects, and each behavior has been selected to form particular combination patterns. One of the QTL showing small pleiotropic effect includes the Drd4 gene known for its association with behavioral traits in some animal taxa including mammals.
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Lee HE, Choi BH, Lee DH, Kwon YJ, Eo J, Choi Y, Jeong H, Gim JA, Kim TH, Ha JH, Han KI, Kim HS. Polymorphism analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase gene variable number of tandem repeats in various Korean dogs. Genes Genomics 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s13258-014-0243-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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10
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Komiyama T, Iwama H, Osada N, Nakamura Y, Kobayashi H, Tateno Y, Gojobori T. Dopamine receptor genes and evolutionary differentiation in the domestication of fighting cocks and long-crowing chickens. PLoS One 2014; 9:e101778. [PMID: 25078403 PMCID: PMC4117491 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The chicken domestication process represents a typical model of artificial selection, and gives significant insight into the general understanding of the influence of artificial selection on recognizable phenotypes. Two Japanese domesticated chicken varieties, the fighting cock (Shamo) and the long-crowing chicken (Naganakidori), have been selectively bred for dramatically different phenotypes. The former has been selected exclusively for aggressiveness and the latter for long crowing with an obedient sitting posture. To understand the particular mechanism behind these genetic changes during domestication, we investigated the degree of genetic differentiation in the aforementioned chickens, focusing on dopamine receptor D2, D3, and D4 genes. We studied other ornamental chickens such as Chabo chickens as a reference for comparison. When genetic differentiation was measured by an index of nucleotide differentiation (NST) newly devised in this study, we found that the NST value of DRD4 for Shamo (0.072) was distinctively larger than those of the other genes among the three populations, suggesting that aggressiveness has been selected for in Shamo by collecting a variety of single nucleotide polymorphisms. In addition, we found that in DRD4 in Naganakidori, there is a deletion variant of one proline at the 24th residue in the repeat of nine prolines of exon 1. We thus conclude that artificial selection has operated on these different kinds of genetic variation in the DRD4 genes of Shamo and Naganakidori so strongly that the two domesticated varieties have differentiated to obtain their present opposite features in a relatively short period of time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyoshi Komiyama
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
- * E-mail: (TK); (YT); (TG)
| | - Hisakazu Iwama
- Kagawa University, Life Science Research Center, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Naoki Osada
- National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yoji Nakamura
- National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Fisheries Research Agency, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kobayashi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoshio Tateno
- School of New Biology, Daegu Gyoungbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Daegu, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail: (TK); (YT); (TG)
| | - Takashi Gojobori
- National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka, Japan
- SOKENDAI, Department of Genetics, Graduate School of Advanced Studies, Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
- CBRC, BESE, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, KSA
- * E-mail: (TK); (YT); (TG)
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11
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Tachi N, Tanaka S, Ardiyanti A, Katoh K, Sato S. Bovine growth hormone gene polymorphism affects stress response in
J
apanese
B
lack cattle. Anim Sci J 2014; 85:722-8. [DOI: 10.1111/asj.12212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2013] [Accepted: 12/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Tachi
- Graduate School of Agricultural ScienceTohoku University Osaki Japan
| | - Sigefumi Tanaka
- Graduate School of Agricultural ScienceTohoku University Osaki Japan
| | - Astrid Ardiyanti
- Graduate School of Agricultural ScienceTohoku University Osaki Japan
| | - Kazuo Katoh
- Graduate School of Agricultural ScienceTohoku University Osaki Japan
| | - Shusuke Sato
- Graduate School of Agricultural ScienceTohoku University Osaki Japan
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Wan M, Hejjas K, Ronai Z, Elek Z, Sasvari-Szekely M, Champagne FA, Miklósi A, Kubinyi E. DRD4 and TH gene polymorphisms are associated with activity, impulsivity and inattention in Siberian Husky dogs. Anim Genet 2013; 44:717-27. [PMID: 23713429 DOI: 10.1111/age.12058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Both dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) exon 3 and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) intron 4 repeat polymorphisms have been linked to activity and impulsivity in German Shepherd dogs (GSDs). However, the results in GSDs may not be generalisable to other breeds, as allelic frequencies vary markedly among breeds. We selected the Siberian Husky for further study, because it is highly divergent from most dog breeds, including the GSD. The study sample consisted of 145 racing Siberian Huskies from Europe and North America. We found that this breed possesses seven DRD4 length variants, two to five more variants than found in other breeds. Among them was the longest known allele, previously described only in wolves. Short alleles of the DRD4 and TH repeat polymorphisms were associated with higher levels of activity, impulsivity and inattention. Siberian Huskies possessing at least one short allele of the DRD4 polymorphism displayed greater activity in a behavioural test battery than did those with two long alleles. However, the behavioural test was brief and may not have registered variation in behaviour across time and situations. Owners also completed the Dog-Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (Dog-ADHD RS), a more general measure of activity and attention. Siberian Huskies from Europe with two short alleles of the TH polymorphism received higher ratings of inattention on the Dog-ADHD RS than did those with the long allele. Investigation of the joint effect of DRD4 and TH showed that dogs possessing long alleles at both sites were scored as less active-impulsive than were others. Our results are aligned with previous studies showing that DRD4 and TH polymorphisms are associated with activity-impulsivity related traits in dogs. However, the prevalence of variants of these genes differs across breeds, and the functional role of specific variants is unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Wan
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, 1190 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY, 10027, USA
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Hori Y, Kishi H, Inoue-Murayama M, Fujita K. Dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4) is associated with gazing toward humans in domestic dogs (<i>Canis familiaris</i>). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.4236/ojas.2013.31008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Hori Y, Ozaki T, Yamada Y, Tozaki T, Kim HS, Takimoto A, Endo M, Manabe N, Inoue-Murayama M, Fujita K. Breed Differences in Dopamine Receptor D4 Gene (DRD4) in Horses. J Equine Sci 2013; 24:31-6. [PMID: 24833999 PMCID: PMC4013985 DOI: 10.1294/jes.24.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic polymorphisms in genes related to neurotransmitters or hormones affect
personality or behavioral traits in many animal species including humans. In domestic
animals, the allele frequency of such genes has been reported to be different among breeds
and it may account for breed differences in behavior. In this study, we investigated breed
differences in horses in the dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4), which has been reported to
affect horse personality. We collected samples from seven horse breeds including those
native to Japan and Korea, and compared the sequence of the DRD4 exon3 region among these
breeds. We found that there were two types of polymorphisms (VNTR and SNPs) in the exon3
region, and some of them seemed to be breed-specific. In addition, we found that the
allele frequency of G292A, reported to be associated with horse personality, differed
greatly between native Japanese horses and Thoroughbred horses. The frequency of the A
allele which is associated with low curiosity and high vigilance, was much lower in native
Japanese horses (Hokkaido, 0.03; Taishu, 0.08) than in Thoroughbreds (0.62). This
difference may account for breed differences in personality or behavioral traits. Further
studies of the function of these polymorphisms and their effect on behavior are
indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Hori
- Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan ; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
| | - Takatoshi Ozaki
- Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
| | | | - Teruaki Tozaki
- Laboratory of Racing Chemistry, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 320-0851, Japan
| | - Heui-Soo Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Pusan 609-735, Korea
| | - Ayaka Takimoto
- Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan ; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
| | - Maiko Endo
- Animal Resource Science Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kasama, Ibaraki 319-0206, Japan
| | - Noboru Manabe
- Animal Resource Science Center, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kasama, Ibaraki 319-0206, Japan
| | | | - Kazuo Fujita
- Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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16
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Hall NJ, Wynne CDL. The canid genome: behavioral geneticists' best friend? GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2012; 11:889-902. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2012.00851.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2012] [Revised: 06/12/2012] [Accepted: 09/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Zai CC, Ehtesham S, Choi E, Nowrouzi B, de Luca V, Stankovich L, Davidge K, Freeman N, King N, Kennedy JL, Beitchman JH. Dopaminergic system genes in childhood aggression: possible role for DRD2. World J Biol Psychiatry 2012; 13:65-74. [PMID: 21247255 DOI: 10.3109/15622975.2010.543431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Excessive or deficient levels of extracellular dopamine have been hypothesized to contribute to a broad spectrum of mood, motor, and thought abnormalities, and dopaminergic system genes have been implicated in aggressive behaviour from animal and human studies. OBJECTIVE. We examined selected members of the dopaminergic system genes for association with child aggression. METHOD We analyzed polymorphisms in the dopamine transporter DAT1/SLC6A3, dopamine receptor DRD2, and DRD4 genes in our sample of pervasive childhood aggression consisting of 144 cases paired with 144 healthy controls, matched for sex and ethnicity. RESULTS Aggressive children were significantly more likely to have the at least one copy of the G allele for the DRD2 A-241G polymorphism (genotypic P=0.02; allelic P=0.01). The DRD2 rs1079598 CC genotype was overrepresented in aggressive children compared to controls (genotype P=0.04). The DRD2 TaqIA T allele (P=0.01) and the TT genotype (P=0.01) were also significantly overrepresented in aggressive children. CONCLUSIONS Our preliminary results suggest that three polymorphisms in DRD2 are associated with childhood aggression. Future studies are required to replicate the current results and to further explore the relationship between the dopamine system and aggressive behaviour in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clement C Zai
- Neurogenetics Section, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
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Konno A, Inoue-Murayama M, Hasegawa T. Androgen receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with aggression in Japanese Akita Inu. Biol Lett 2011; 7:658-60. [PMID: 21450727 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2011.0087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We tested for an association between variable number of tandem repeats in the canine androgen receptor (AR) gene and personality differences in Japanese Akita Inu dogs. The polymorphic trinucleotide (CAG) repeat region coding for glutamine in exon 1 of the AR gene was genotyped using genomic DNA obtained from 171 dogs. Three alleles (23, 24 and 26 repeats) were detected, and the allele frequency differed with the coat colour. We assessed the personality profiles of 100 fawn-coloured dogs (54 males and 46 females) based on a questionnaire answered by each dog's owner. The questionnaire consisted of five sub-scales (sociability, playfulness, neuroticism, aggressiveness, distractibility), and the psychometric properties were acceptable based upon internal consistency of the subscales. We found that male dogs with a short allele conferring increased AR function had higher aggressiveness scores than male dogs with longer alleles. By contrast, no evidence was found for a relationship between AR gene variants and personality in females. To our knowledge, our findings provide the first evidence of polymorphism in the AR gene being associated with canine aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akitsugu Konno
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.
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van Oers K, Mueller JC. Evolutionary genomics of animal personality. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2011; 365:3991-4000. [PMID: 21078651 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2010.0178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Research on animal personality can be approached from both a phenotypic and a genetic perspective. While using a phenotypic approach one can measure present selection on personality traits and their combinations. However, this approach cannot reconstruct the historical trajectory that was taken by evolution. Therefore, it is essential for our understanding of the causes and consequences of personality diversity to link phenotypic variation in personality traits with polymorphisms in genomic regions that code for this trait variation. Identifying genes or genome regions that underlie personality traits will open exciting possibilities to study natural selection at the molecular level, gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, pleiotropic effects and how gene expression shapes personality phenotypes. In this paper, we will discuss how genome information revealed by already established approaches and some more recent techniques such as high-throughput sequencing of genomic regions in a large number of individuals can be used to infer micro-evolutionary processes, historical selection and finally the maintenance of personality trait variation. We will do this by reviewing recent advances in molecular genetics of animal personality, but will also use advanced human personality studies as case studies of how molecular information may be used in animal personality research in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kees van Oers
- Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Heteren, The Netherlands.
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Takeuchi Y, Kaneko F, Hashizume C, Masuda K, Ogata N, Maki T, Inoue-Murayama M, Hart BL, Mori Y. Association analysis between canine behavioural traits and genetic polymorphisms in the Shiba Inu breed. Anim Genet 2009; 40:616-22. [PMID: 19397510 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2009.01888.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Y Takeuchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
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Takeuchi Y, Hashizume C, Arata S, Inoue-Murayama M, Maki T, Hart BL, Mori Y. An approach to canine behavioural genetics employing guide dogs for the blind. Anim Genet 2009; 40:217-24. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2008.01823.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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Hejjas K, Kubinyi E, Ronai Z, Szekely A, Vas J, Miklósi, Sasvari-Szekely M, Kereszturi E. Molecular and behavioral analysis of the intron 2 repeat polymorphism in the canine dopamine D4 receptor gene. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2009; 8:330-6. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2008.00475.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Arata S, Ogata N, Shimozuru M, Takeuchi Y, Mori Y. Sequences and polymorphisms of the canine monoamine transporter genes SLC6A2, SLC6A3, and SLC6A4 among five dog breeds. J Vet Med Sci 2008; 70:971-5. [PMID: 18840973 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.70.971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoamine transporters have roles to regulate the monoamine concentrations in synaptic clefts in the central nervous system and are the targets of antidepressants and psychostimulants. They include transporters for norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin, which are encoded by the SLC6A2, SLC6A3, and SLC6A4 genes, respectivily. We sequenced the full lengths of the coding regions of these genes for dogs and identified four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SLC6A2 and four in SLC6A3. One SLC6A3 SNP was non-synonymous and caused an amino acid substitution from threonine to serine. The genotype frequencies of these polymorphisms differed significantly among five breeds with different behavioral traits, suggesting that novel SLC6A2 and SLC6A3 SNPs would provide additional useful information for behavioral genetic studies in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayaka Arata
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Luescher AU, Reisner IR. Canine aggression toward familiar people: a new look at an old problem. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2008; 38:1107-30, vii. [PMID: 18672156 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2008.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Dogs that are aggressive toward their owners have long been regarded as being dominant. This article presents scientific evidence that does not support this claim. Based on this evidence, the authors present an alternative explanation for canine aggression toward owners and outline a treatment plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew U Luescher
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Clinical Sciences, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2026, USA.
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Kaneko F, Masuda K, Takeuchi Y, Mori Y. Identifying novel polymorphisms in the canine tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene. J Vet Med Sci 2008; 70:1117-20. [PMID: 18981671 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.70.1117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) serves as the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin, and two forms of TPH genes, TPH1 and TPH2, have been reported with specific nucleotide sequences and expression patterns. We determined the sequences of these two genes and identified polymorphisms within their coding regions. We identified five novel single nucleotide polymorphisms in the TPH2 gene, one of which resulted in a non-synonymous mutation and the remaining four in synonymous mutations. Comparison of the genotype frequencies of the polymorphisms among five popular breeds with different behavioral traits revealed statistically significant interbreed differences for three polymorphisms. These results suggest that these polymorphisms would be useful genetic markers when performing behavior studies in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumihiro Kaneko
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Study of Jindo Dog Personality Traits:Questionnaire of The 16th Korean Jindo Dog Show. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2008. [DOI: 10.5187/jast.2008.50.2.273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Fidler AE, van Oers K, Drent PJ, Kuhn S, Mueller JC, Kempenaers B. Drd4 gene polymorphisms are associated with personality variation in a passerine bird. Proc Biol Sci 2008; 274:1685-91. [PMID: 17472912 PMCID: PMC1914334 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2007.0337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Polymorphisms in several neurotransmitter-associated genes have been associated with variation in human personality traits. Among the more promising of such associations is that between the human dopamine receptor D4 gene (Drd4) variants and novelty-seeking behaviour. However, genetic epistasis, genotype-environment interactions and confounding environmental factors all act to obscure genotype-personality relationships. Such problems can be addressed by measuring personality under standardized conditions and by selection experiments, with both approaches only feasible with non-human animals. Looking for similar Drd4 genotype-personality associations in a free-living bird, the great tit (Parus major), we detected 73 polymorphisms (66 SNPs, 7 indels) in the P. major Drd4 orthologue. Two of the P. major Drd4 gene polymorphisms were investigated for evidence of association with novelty-seeking behaviour: a coding region synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP830) and a 15bp indel (ID15) located 5' to the putative transcription initiation site. Frequencies of the three Drd4 SNP830 genotypes, but not the ID15 genotypes, differed significantly between two P. major lines selected over four generations for divergent levels of 'early exploratory behaviour' (EEB). Strong corroborating evidence for the significance of this finding comes from the analysis of free-living, unselected birds where we found a significant association between SNP830 genotypes and differing mean EEB levels. These findings suggest that an association between Drd4 gene polymorphisms and animal personality variation predates the divergence of the avian and mammalian lineages. Furthermore, this work heralds the possibility of following microevolutionary changes in frequencies of behaviourally relevant Drd4 polymorphisms within populations where natural selection acts differentially on different personality types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew E Fidler
- Max-Planck Institute for OrnithologyPO Box 1564, 82319 Starnberg, Germany
- Cawthron InstitutePrivate Bag 2, Nelson 7042, New Zealand
| | - Kees van Oers
- Max-Planck Institute for OrnithologyPO Box 1564, 82319 Starnberg, Germany
- Netherlands Institute of EcologyPO Box 40, 6666 ZG Heteren, The Netherlands
| | - Piet J Drent
- Netherlands Institute of EcologyPO Box 40, 6666 ZG Heteren, The Netherlands
| | - Sylvia Kuhn
- Max-Planck Institute for OrnithologyPO Box 1564, 82319 Starnberg, Germany
| | - Jakob C Mueller
- Max-Planck Institute for OrnithologyPO Box 1564, 82319 Starnberg, Germany
| | - Bart Kempenaers
- Max-Planck Institute for OrnithologyPO Box 1564, 82319 Starnberg, Germany
- Author for correspondence ()
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ARATA S, HASHIZUME C, KIKUSUI T, TAKEUCHI Y, MORI Y. Sequences of Canine Glutamate Decarboxylase (GAD) 1 and GAD2 Genes, and Variation of their Genetic Polymorphisms among Five Dog Breeds. J Vet Med Sci 2008; 70:1107-10. [DOI: 10.1292/jvms.70.1107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sayaka ARATA
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo
| | - Chie HASHIZUME
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo
| | | | | | - Yuji MORI
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo
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33
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Novel repeat polymorphisms of the dopaminergic neurotransmitter genes among dogs and wolves. Mamm Genome 2007; 18:871-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s00335-007-9070-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2007] [Accepted: 09/21/2007] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Hejjas K, Vas J, Topal J, Szantai E, Ronai Z, Szekely A, Kubinyi E, Horvath Z, Sasvari-Szekely M, Miklosi A. Association of polymorphisms in the dopamine D4 receptor gene and the activity-impulsivity endophenotype in dogs. Anim Genet 2007; 38:629-33. [PMID: 17986156 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2007.01657.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
A variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism in exon 3 of the human dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) has been associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Rodents possess no analogous repeat sequence, whereas a similar tandem repeat polymorphism of the DRD4 gene was identified in dogs, horses and chimpanzees. Here, we present a genetic association study of the DRD4 VNTR and the activity-impulsivity dimension of the recently validated dog-ADHD Rating Scale. To avoid false positives arising from population stratification, a single breed of dogs (German shepherd) was studied. Two DRD4 alleles (referred to as 2 and 3a) were detected in this breed, and genotype frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. For modelling distinct environmental conditions, 'pet' and 'police' German shepherds were characterized. Police German shepherds possessing at least one 3a allele showed significantly higher scores in the activity-impulsivity dimension of the dog-ADHD Rating Scale than dogs without this allele (P = 0.0180). This difference was not significant in pet German shepherds. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an association between a candidate gene and a behaviour trait in dogs, and it reinforces the functional role of DRD4 exon 3 polymorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Hejjas
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Puskin u. 9, Budapest, H-1088, Hungary
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Lessons learned from the dog genome. Trends Genet 2007; 23:557-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2007.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2007] [Revised: 08/23/2007] [Accepted: 08/23/2007] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Miklósi A, Topál J, Csányi V. Big thoughts in small brains? Dogs as a model for understanding human social cognition. Neuroreport 2007; 18:467-71. [PMID: 17496805 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0b013e3280287aae] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In this review we argued that dogs can provide a good model for both the evolution of human social-cognitive abilities and studying the underlying neural and genetic structures of these behavioural features. The key difference between the present and other approaches for modelling human social evolution lies in the assumption that there is a large overlap between the human and dog behaviour complex because during their evolution in close contact with human groups dogs evolved functionally similar social skills. Thus the parallel investigation of the human and dog behaviour complex widens our possibility for understanding human social cognition because it allows the modelling of the interaction between various components in contrast to other models which are often restricted to modelling a single aspect of human social cognitive skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adám Miklósi
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös University, Budapest, Pázmány, Hungary.
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Vas J, Topál J, Péch É, Miklósi Á. Measuring attention deficit and activity in dogs: A new application and validation of a human ADHD questionnaire. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2006.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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39
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Tanabe Y. Phylogenetic studies of dogs with emphasis on Japanese and Asian breeds. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN ACADEMY. SERIES B, PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2007; 82:375-387. [PMID: 25792769 PMCID: PMC4338834 DOI: 10.2183/pjab.82.375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2006] [Accepted: 12/05/2006] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The first domestication of the dog occurred in East Asia, and major ancestor of the dog was a wolf subspecies, Canis lupus chanco. This finding derives from data on the nucleotide sequences of mtDNA and the frequency of genes controlling blood protein polymorphisms in various subspecies of wolves and dog breeds around the world. The results of the allele frequency distribution of genes controlling 16 blood protein polymorphisms, and the incidence of dogs possessing erythrocytes with high potassium (HK) in Japan, East Asia and Europe allowed us to posturate the following hypothesis about the origins of Japanese dogs and the history of their development. In the Jomon period the first dogs entered the Japanese archipelago from southern or northern continental Asia. These dogs eventually spread throughout Japan. Then, during the Yayoi and Kofun periods, other dogs were brought over via the Korean Peninsula, and crossbreeding occurred with the original dogs. The resulted offspring can be assumed to be the ancestors of most of the Japanese breeds that exist today. Ethological studies have revealed a significant breed difference in behavioral traits among canine breeds with Japanese dogs, showing more aggressive dispositions than most of European dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichi Tanabe
- 1873–9, Kogasaka, Machida-shi, Tokyo 194–0014, Japan (e-mail: )
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Abstract
Pharmacogenetics, the study of genetic determinants of response to drug therapy, is likely the ultimate way to establish the right drug and dose for each patient, thereby optimizing efficacy and minimizing toxicity. Despite the fact that this branch of pharmacology is still in its infancy as a science, a number of important discoveries have already contributed to improved pharmacotherapy in human and veterinary patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina L Mealey
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6610, USA.
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Abstract
Molecular genetic studies of personality began with two high impact papers in 1996 that showed provisional associations between the dopamine DRD4 exon III repeat region and Novelty Seeking/Extraversion. These first two reports were shortly followed by an investigation linking Neuroticism/Harm Avoidance with the serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) promoter region polymorphism (5-HTTLPR). In the ensuing decade, thousands of subjects have been studied for association between these genes and personality, assessed by using self-report questionnaires, with erratic success in replication of the first findings for Novelty Seeking (DRD4) and Harm Avoidance (5-HTTLPR). Small effect sizes characteristic of non-Mendelian traits, polygenic patterns of inheritance and true heterogeneity between studies confound attempts to reach a consensus regarding the role of common polymorphisms in contributing to personality domains. Nevertheless, the current state of personality genetics is far from being bleak. Several new paradigms especially functional neuroimaging or 'imaging genomics' have strengthened the connection between 5-HTTLPR and anxiety-related personality traits. The demonstrations that early environmental information can considerably strengthen and even uncover associations between genes and behavior (Caspi's seminal studies and more recently the demonstration that early environment impacts on DRD4 and Novelty Seeking) are notable and herald a new era of personality genetics. Finally, consideration of the broader phenotypic expression of common polymorphisms (e.g. the 'social brain', altruism, etc.) and the use of new experimental paradigms including neurophysiological, neuropsychological and computer games that go beyond the narrow self-report questionnaire design will enable a deeper understanding of how common genetic polymorphisms modulate human behavior. Human personality, defined by Webster as the quality or state of being a person or the complex of characteristics that distinguishes an individual, surely requires a more encompassing view towards understanding its complex molecular genetic architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- R P Ebstein
- Department of Psychology and Scheinfeld Center for Genetic Studies in the Social Sciences, Mount Scopus, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
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Takeuchi Y, Hashizume C, Chon EMH, Momozawa Y, Masuda K, Kikusui T, Mori Y. Canine tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene and dopamine beta -hydroxylase (DBH) gene: their sequences, genetic polymorphisms, and diversities among five different dog breeds. J Vet Med Sci 2006; 67:861-7. [PMID: 16210796 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.67.861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine and noradrenaline are catecholamine neurotransmitters that are produced by biosynthetic enzymes such as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine beta -hydroxylase (DBH). As a first step to elucidate the genetic background of canine behavioral traits, we selected these genes as targets and sequenced these canine genes, and found that both were highly homologous with those of human beings. Then brain cDNAs derived from ten unrelated Beagles were used to search for polymorphisms in these genes. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (C97T, G168A, G180A and C264T), one of which (C97T) will cause amino acid substitution in the TH gene, and two SNPs (C789A and A1819G), both of which will cause amino acid substitutions in the DBH gene were identified. The allelic frequencies among five dog breeds (47 Golden Retrievers, 41 Labrador Retrievers, 40 Malteses, 26 Miniature Schnauzers, and 39 Shibas) were examined and found to have significant variation between them with regards to all these SNPs, except for C97T in the TH gene and A1819G in the DBH gene. The polymorphisms of C97T and A1819G were found only in the Shiba. The present results suggest that the polymorphisms of the genes encoding catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes may become important markers for examining the genetic background of behavioral characteristics in dogs.
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Momozawa Y, Takeuchi Y, Kusunose R, Kikusui T, Mori Y. Association between equine temperament and polymorphisms in dopamine D4 receptor gene. Mamm Genome 2006; 16:538-44. [PMID: 16151699 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-005-0021-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2004] [Accepted: 03/10/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism of the dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene has been reported to be associated with the personality trait of novelty-seeking in humans. In the genus Equus, this region includes an 18-bp repeat unit and there are inter- and intraspecies differences in the number of repetitions. Because horses are unique among livestock species in that their temperament is considered important, we investigated the possible role of this region on equine temperament in thoroughbred horses. We simultaneously determined the sequences of this polymorphic region and administered a questionnaire survey to horse caretakers with questions about 20 different traits of their horses' temperament. Although there was no difference in the number of repeats among the 136 thoroughbred horses studied, two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), one of which might cause an amino acid change (A-G substitution), existed. By analyzing the association between these SNPs and temperament scores, a significant association was revealed between two temperament traits (Curiosity and Vigilance) and the A-G substitution. Horses without the A allele had significantly higher Curiosity and lower Vigilance scores than those with the A allele at the A-G substitution. In addition, similar associations between both temperament scores and each genotype of the A-G substitution were observed in two subgroups divided according to the time of their introduction to the farm. These results suggested that the SNP in the VNTR region of the equine DRD4 gene might be related to individual differences in equine temperament.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukihide Momozawa
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Tokyo, 113-8657, Japan
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Momozawa Y, Takeuchi Y, Tozaki T, Kikusui T, Hasegawa T, Raudsepp T, Chowdhary BP, Kusunose R, Mori Y. Polymorphism Identification, RH Mapping, and Association Analysis with the Anxiety Trait of the Equine serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) Gene. J Vet Med Sci 2006; 68:619-21. [PMID: 16820721 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.68.619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Equine anxiety trait is considered an important temperament in various situations, including riding, training, and daily care. This study examined the polymorphism of the equine serotonin transporter (SLC6A4) gene as a candidate genetic element influencing equine anxiety trait. The sequence of the coding region of this gene was highly homologous with those of other mammals, and four single nucleotide polymorphisms were found by comparing the sequences of ten genetically unrelated thoroughbred horses. Radiation hybrid mapping revealed that this gene was located 26.92 cR from neurofibromin 1 on ECA 11. Using two-year-old thoroughbred horses (n=67), the association of these polymorphisms with the anxiety trait was examined, but no significant association was identified between each haplotype of the serotonin transporter gene and the anxiety score.
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Takeuchi Y, Mori Y. A Comparison of the Behavioral Profiles of Purebred Dogs in Japan to Profiles of those in the United States and the United Kingdom. J Vet Med Sci 2006; 68:789-96. [PMID: 16953077 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.68.789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To clarify the behavioral profiles of 56 pure breeds of dogs in Japan, 96 small-animal veterinarians participated in a questionnaire survey using the same criteria as in preceding studies conducted in the United States and the United Kingdom. We found significant differences among breeds in all behavioral traits examined. In addition, gender differences were revealed in terms of aggression to dogs, territorial defense, excitability, general activity, dominance over owner, destructiveness, watchdog barking, and snapping at children, which were all rated higher in males than females, whereas obedience training and housebreaking ease were rated higher in females. No gender differences were evident in playfulness, excessive barking, or affection demand. Using factor analyses, "aggressiveness", "reactivity", and "trainability" were determined to be consistent with results found in the US and UK surveys. On the basis of these factor scores, seven groups of breeds were determined by cluster analysis to compare to the US survey; 22 of the 38 breeds common with the US survey were categorized into the same groups as those in that survey. The results demonstrated differences in canine behavioral predisposition among breeds and between genders. The similarity in the results between our study and previous surveys, which involved distinct geographical locales, suggests that the genetic basis of breed-specific temperamental traits is manifested irrespective of the cultural or regional identities of the owners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukari Takeuchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Larsen SA, Mogensen L, Dietz R, Baagøe HJ, Andersen M, Werge T, Rasmussen HB. Identification and Characterization of Tandem Repeats in Exon III of Dopamine Receptor D4 (DRD4) Genes from Different Mammalian Species. DNA Cell Biol 2005; 24:795-804. [PMID: 16332176 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2005.24.795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study we have identified and characterized dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) exon III tandem repeats in 33 public available nucleotide sequences from different mammalian species. We found that the tandem repeat in canids could be described in a novel and simple way, namely, as a structure composed of 15- and 12- bp modules. Tandem repeats composed of 18-bp modules were found in sequences from the horse, zebra, onager, and donkey, Asiatic bear, polar bear, common raccoon, dolphin, harbor porpoise, and domestic cat. Several of these sequences have been analyzed previously without a tandem repeat being found. In the domestic cow and gray seal we identified tandem repeats composed of 36-bp modules, each consisting of two closely related 18-bp basic units. A tandem repeat consisting of 9-bp modules was identified in sequences from mink and ferret. In the European otter we detected an 18-bp tandem repeat, while a tandem repeat consisting of 27-bp modules was identified in a sequence from European badger. Both these tandem repeats were composed of 9-bp basic units, which were closely related with the 9-bp repeat modules identified in the mink and ferret. Tandem repeats could not be identified in sequences from rodents. All tandem repeats possessed a high GC content with a strong bias for C. On phylogenetic analysis of the tandem repeats evolutionary related species were clustered into the same groups. The degree of conservation of the tandem repeats varied significantly between species. The deduced amino acid sequences of most of the tandem repeats exhibited a high propensity for disorder. This was also the case with an amino acid sequence of the human DRD4 exon III tandem repeat, which was included in the study for comparative purposes. We identified proline-containing motifs for SH3 and WW domain binding proteins, potential phosphorylation sites, PDZ domain binding motifs, and FHA domain binding motifs in the amino acid sequences of the tandem repeats. The numbers of potential functional sites varied pronouncedly between species. Our observations provide a platform for future studies of the architecture and evolution of the DRD4 exon III tandem repeat, and they suggest that differences in the structure of this tandem repeat contribute to specialization and generation of diversity in receptor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svend Arild Larsen
- Research Institute of Biological Psychiatry, H:S Sct. Hans Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
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Sugiyama A, Inoue-Murayama M, Miwa M, Ohashi R, Kayang BB, Mizutani M, Nirasawa K, Odai M, Minezawa M, Watanabe S, Ito S. Polymorphism of dopamine receptor D4 exon I corresponding region in chicken. Zoolog Sci 2005; 21:941-6. [PMID: 15459452 DOI: 10.2108/zsj.21.941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In stockbreeding, there are indications that behavioral traits of livestock have an effect on breeding and production. If the variation in individual behavior is related to that in neurotransmitter-related genes such as in humans, it would be possible to breed pedigrees composed of individuals having behavioral traits that are useful to production and breeding using selection based on genotypes. In this study, we investigated the exon I region of dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4), in which variation is related to psychiatric disorder in humans, in major poultry species namely Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), chicken (Gallus gallus), ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris). Furthermore, we investigated Japanese cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus) and Japanese jungle crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) as an out-group. In these species of birds, the repeat of proline was identified in the region corresponding to the human polymorphic region. The repeat number was 9 in Japanese quail, ring-necked pheasant and Japanese cormorant; 12 in helmeted guinea fowl; and 3 in Japanese jungle crow. However, no polymorphism was found in these species. In contrast, polymorphism was observed in chicken and two alleles with 8 and 9 repeats were identified. Although 9 repeats (allele 9) were predominant in most chicken breeds, Black Minorca had only 8 repeats (allele 8). Intra-breed polymorphism was found in 6 out of 12 breeds, and two alleles (alleles 8 and 9) were detected in these breeds. This polymorphism, which is the first to be reported on a neurotransmitter-related gene in birds, would contribute significant information for elucidation of differences in behavioral traits in chicken breeds.
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NARA H, INOUE-MURAYAMA M, KOSHIMURA A, SUGIYAMA A, MURAYAMA Y, MAEJIMA M, UEDA Y, ITO H, RANDI E, KIM HS, HA JH, KITAGAWA H, TAKEUCHI Y, MORI Y, IWASAKI T, MORITA M, OTA K, ITO S. Novel polymorphism of the canine dopamine receptor D4 gene intron II region. Anim Sci J 2005. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-0929.2005.00241.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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