Molecular implications of repeated aggression: Th, Dat1, Snca and Bdnf gene expression in the VTA of victorious male mice.
BACKGROUND
It is generally recognized that recurrent aggression can be the result of various psychiatric disorders. The aim of our study was to analyze the mRNA levels, in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the midbrain, of the genes that may possibly be associated with aggression consistently shown by male mice in special experimental settings.


RESULTS
The genes were Th, Dat1, Snca and Bdnf; the male mice were a group of animals that had each won 20 daily encounters in succession and a group of animals that had the same winning track record followed by a no-fight period for 14 days. Increased Th, Dat1 and Snca mRNA levels were in the fresh-from-the-fight group as compared to the controls. Increased Th and Dat1 mRNA levels were in the no-fight winners as compared to the controls. Significant positive correlations were found between the level of aggression and Th and Snca mRNA levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Repeated positive fighting experience enhances the expression of the Th, Dat1 and Snca genes, which are associated with brain dopaminergic systems. The expression of the Th and Dat1 genes stays enhanced for a long time.
Bondar
Natalia P
NP
Institute of Cytology and Genetics SD RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia.
Boyarskikh
Ul'yana A
UA
Kovalenko
Irina L
IL
Filipenko
Maxim L
ML
Kudryavtseva
Natalia N
NN
D000374:Aggression; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D004298:Dopamine; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics*; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000378:metabolism*; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000235:genetics*
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C493215:Slc6a3 protein, mouse; C497605:Snca protein, mouse; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine