Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Epigenetic sources of behavioral differences in mice

  • Brief Communication
  • Published:

From Nature Neuroscience

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

Inbred mouse strains are classically used to search for the genes associated with behavioral traits, including emotionality. To distinguish genetic and environmental contributions to the expression of adult behavior in mice, we investigated the effects of prenatal (embryo transfer) and postnatal (cross-fostering) environments in two strains of inbred mice with profound and reliable differences in behavior1. Here we report that strain-related behavioral differences may result from environmental factors during development rather than genetic differences between the offspring.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1: Open-field, elevated-plus maze, water-maze learning and pre-pulse inhibition behavior.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bucan, M. & Abel, T. Nat. Rev. Genet. 3, 114–123 (2002).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Crabbe, J.C., Wahlsten, D. & Dudek, B.C. Science 284, 1670–1672 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Dulawa, S.C. & Geyer, M.A. Neuropharmacology 39, 2170–2179 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Paylor, R. & Crawley, J.N. Psychopharmacology 132, 169–180 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. DeFries, J.C., Thomas, E.A., Hegmann, J.P. & Weir, M.W. Psychon. Sci. 8, 207–208 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Carlier, M., Roubertoux, P. & Cohen-Salmon, C. Physiol. Behav. 30, 837–844 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Rhees, B.K., Ernst, C.A., Miao, C.H. & Atchley, W.R. Genetics 153, 905–917 (1999).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Le Roy, I., Carlier, M. & Roubertoux, P.L. Behav. Brain Res. 125, 57–64 (2001).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Brown, R.E., Mathieson, W.B., Stapleton, J. & Neumann, P.E. Physiol. Behav. 67, 599–605 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Zaharia, M.D., Kulczycki, J., Shanks, N., Meaney, M.J. & Anisman, H. Psychopharmacology 128, 227–239 (1996).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Liu, D. et al. Science 277, 1659–1662 (1997).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Liu, D., Diorio, J., Day, J.C., Francis, D.D. & Meaney, M.J. Nat. Neurosci. 3, 799–806 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Francis, D., Diorio, J., Liu, D. & Meaney, M.J. Science 286, 1155–1158 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank T. Etzel for assistance with animal care, and Cure Autism Now and the National Science Foundation IBN 9876754 for support.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Thomas R. Insel

    Present address: NIMH, 6001 Executive Blvd. Room 8235, MSC 9669, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, Yerkes Research Center, 954 Gatewood Rd., Atlanta, 30329, Georgia, USA

    Darlene D. Francis, Kathleen Szegda & Thomas R. Insel

  2. Transgenic Mouse Core, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead Research Building, Atlanta, 30329, Georgia, USA

    Gregory Campbell & W. David Martin

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, 30329, Georgia, USA

    Thomas R. Insel

Authors
  1. Darlene D. Francis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kathleen Szegda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gregory Campbell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. W. David Martin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Thomas R. Insel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas R. Insel.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Francis, D., Szegda, K., Campbell, G. et al. Epigenetic sources of behavioral differences in mice. Nat Neurosci 6, 445–446 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1038

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nn1038

  • Springer Nature America, Inc.

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation