title: Chimpanzee sociability is associated with vasopressin (Avpr1a) but not oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) variation.
abstract: The importance of genes in regulating phenotypic variation of personality traits in humans and animals is becoming increasingly apparent in recent studies. Here we focus on variation in the vasopressin receptor gene 1a (Avpr1a) and oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and their effects on social personality traits in chimpanzees. We combine newly available genetic data on Avpr1a and OXTR allelic variation of 62 captive chimpanzees with individual variation in personality, based on behavioral assessments. Our study provides support for the positive association of the Avpr1a promoter region, in particular the presence of DupB, and sociability in chimpanzees. This complements findings of previous studies on adolescent chimpanzees and studies that assessed personality using questionnaire data. In contrast, no significant associations were found for the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) ss1388116472 of the OXTR and any of the personality components. Most importantly, our study provides additional evidence for the regulatory function of the 5' promoter region of Avpr1a on social behavior and its evolutionary stable effect across species, including rodents, chimpanzees and humans. Although it is generally accepted that complex social behavior is regulated by a combination of genes, the environment and their interaction, our findings highlight the importance of candidate genes with large effects on behavioral variation.
authors: University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium; Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, B-2018 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: Nicky.staes@kmda.org.
authors: Nicky
authors: N
authors: Staes
authors: Helsinki University, Finnish Centre of Excellence in Intersubjectivity in Interaction, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: sonja.koski@helsinki.fi.
authors: Sonja E
authors: SE
authors: Koski
authors: Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, B-2018 Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: Philippe.Helsen@kmda.org.
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Helsen
authors: University of Antwerp, Statua Center for Statistics, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: erik.fransen@uantwerpen.be.
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Fransen
authors: University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: Marcel.Eens@uantwerpen.be.
authors: Marcel
authors: M
authors: Eens
authors: Centre for Research and Conservation, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, B-2018 Antwerp, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: Jeroen.Stevens@kmda.org.
authors: Jeroen M G
authors: JM
authors: Stevens
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics*; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000235:genetics*; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin; D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: Avpr1a; Behavioral genetics; OXTR; Oxytocin; Pan troglodytes; Personality; Sociability; Vasopressin