Researchers find CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing approach can alter the social behavior of animals

Georgia State University scientists have created gene-edited hamsters for studies of social neuroscience and have found that the biology behind social behavior may be more complex than previously thought.

The team of Georgia State University researchers used the technology to eliminate the actions of a neuroscience signaling. Vasopressin regulates social phenomena such as pair bonding, cooperation, and social communication to dominance and aggression. The new study found that by removing the Avpr1a receptor in hamsters, it was possible to eliminate the action of vasopressin.

Albers said that they were surprised by the results. The opposite happened.

The hamsters with intact receptors had higher levels of social communication than the ones without. Sex differences in aggressiveness were eliminated with both male and female hamsters displaying high levels of aggression towards other same-sex individuals.

Albers said that it is possible that the more global effects of the Avpr1a receptor are inhibitory.

We don't understand the system as well as we thought. The counterintuitive findings show that we need to think about the actions of these receptors across the entire brain.

Syrian hamsters are important for studies of social behavior, aggression and communication. They are the species in which vasopressin was first shown to influence sociality. Hamsters are more similar to humans than mice are, which makes them a great model for the studies of social behavior.

The stress response of rodents is more similar to that of humans. Humans release the stress hormone cortisol. She said that they get many of the cancers that humans get.

The work using CRISPR in hamsters was a significant step forward.

More information: Jack H. Taylor et al, CRISPR-Cas9 editing of the arginine–vasopressin V1a receptor produces paradoxical changes in social behavior in Syrian hamsters, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2121037119 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Citation: Researchers find CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing approach can alter the social behavior of animals (2022, May 16) retrieved 16 May 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-05-crispr-cas9-gene-approach-social-behavior.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.