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A polymorphic glucocorticoid receptor in a mouse population may explain inherited altered stress response and increased anxiety‐type behaviors
Author(s) -
Xu Dongsheng,
Buehner Angela,
Xu Jianping,
Lambert Travis,
Nekl Casey,
Nielsen Merlyn K.,
Zhou You
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.06-5926fje
Subject(s) - glucocorticoid receptor , corticosterone , open field , medicine , elevated plus maze , wild type , glucocorticoid , endocrinology , allele , inbred strain , population , receptor , chemistry , biology , anxiety , psychology , genetics , gene , mutant , psychiatry , environmental health , hormone
A polymorphic glucocorticoid receptor (GR Qn ) with an expanded CAG track and two silent mutations, when compared with the sequence of other isoform (GR wt ), is found in two outbred mouse lines that were produced by selection for high (SH) or low (SL) stress response from high or low heat loss lines of mice, respectively. The GR Qn allele, which is also found in 5 of 16 commonly used inbred mouse lines, had a much higher frequency in SL mice; the GR wt/wt was found only in the SH line. Both GR Qn/Qn and GR wt/Qn mice had a much weaker corticosterone response to stress than the GR wt/wt mice. Assessment of open field activity revealed that GR Qn/Qn and GR wt/Qn mice exhibited significantly lower velocity and locomotor activity, less time in the center, and much longer duration in corner zones than the GR wt/wt mice. The increased anxiety‐type behaviors of the GR Qn/Qn and GR wt/Qn mice were confirmed by the “elevated plus maze” test in which GR Qn/Qn and GR wt/Qn mice spent significantly less time in the “open arm” and longer duration in the “closed arm,” than GR wt/wt mice. These results suggest this GR polymorphism plays a role in complex mechanisms leading to lower corticosterone response to stress, and may also be associated with decreased locomotive and increased anxiety‐type behaviors in mice.—Xu, D., Buehner, A., Xu, J., Lambert, T., Nekl, C., Nielsen, M. K., Zhou, Y. A polymorphic glucocorticoid receptor in a mouse population may explain inherited altered stress response and increased anxiety‐type behaviors. FASEB J. 20, E1802–E1810 (2006)