This review article describes the complex interactions between genetic factors and the gut microbiome in the context of opioid use behaviors.
(Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2024)
We tested the inbred High and Low Activity strains of mice, selected for differences in open field activity, using a series of anxiety-like defensive behaviors following injections of diazepam, a drug used to treat anxiety disorders in humans. Complex results were observed, which reveal that the phenotypic differences between these two strains may include components of innate fear alongside anxiety-related responses.
(Physiology & Behavior, 2023)
Hippocampal RNA-sequencing of the High and Low Activity mice identified nearly 4000 differentially expressed protein-coding genes, some of which showed sex-dependent effects. In particular, 39/46 genes relating to oxidative phosphorylation were upregulated in the female high anxiety, Low Activity mice. Furthermore, subsequent integrative genomics analyses highlighted one gene/protein in complex 1 of the mitochondria, Nduf13, as a top candidate across multiple studies.
(Genes, Brain and Behavior, 2022)
This study confirmed and expanded the behavioral testing of the High and Low Activity inbred strains of mice, which show dramatic differences in open field activity, but had not been studied for ~20 years. We retested them using more modern equipment and behavioral tests to more fully characterize the behavior.
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(Genes, Brain and Behavior, 2022)
We conducted whole-genome sequencing of four inbred mouse strains initially selected for high (H1, H2) or low (L1, L2) open-field activity, a measure commonly used to model anxiety-like behaviors. These data were used to examine strain distribution patterns for their original parental strains (BALB/cJ and C57BL/6J) and to narrow genomic intervals (QTL) containing genes contributing to this trait. Finally, we performed a bioinformatics analysis using GeneWeaver to identify overlapping genes from multiple studies, thereby leading to a reduced prioritized gene list for future study.
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(Behavior Genetics, 2021)
Previous studies in our lab demonstrated that female mice of the C57Bl/6J strain voluntarily consume less alcohol when provided access to a running wheel, while males do not. This follow-up study demonstrated there are both sex and genetic differences in two other strains (129/SvEvTac and C3H/Ibg). These results highlight the complexity of both voluntary alcohol consumption and voluntary wheel running, as well as the interaction between these behaviors.
