Murine genetic model may aid study of antisocial behavior in humans
NewsRx.com - October 30, 2003

A murine genetic model may aid the study of antisocial personality disorders.

Scientists in England conducted a study to determine "whether mouse lines genetically selected for short and long attack latencies are good animal models for antisocial behavior in humans."

"To this end," F. Sluyter and coauthors at the University of London "compared male Short and Long Attack Latency mice (SAL and LAL, respectively) with the extremes of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (men who persistently displayed antisocial behavior [Persisters] and men who never manifested antisocial behavior [Abstainers])."

"Groups were compared on the basis of five distinct domains: aggression/violence, reproduction, cognition, behavioral disorders, and endophenotypes," they noted. The results suggested "considerable parallels between, on one side, SAL and Persisters, and, on the other side, between LAL and Abstainers (but to a lesser extent)."

"We believe that SAL and LAL are good mouse models to study the development of antisocial behavior and will yield valuable and testable hypotheses with regard to the neurobiological and genetical architecture of antisocial behavior," the researchers concluded.

Sluyter and colleagues published their study in Behavior Genetics (Toward an animal model for antisocial behavior: parallels between mice and humans. Behav Genet, 2003;33(5):563-574).

For additional information, contact F. Sluyter, University of London, King's College, MRC, SGDP Center, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, PO 083, London SE5 8AF, UK.

The publisher of the journal Behavior Genetics can be contacted at: Kluwer Academic, Plenum Publishing, 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013 USA.

The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of Animal Models, Genetics & Genomics and Mental Health. This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports.

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Last updated: 11/07/2003 - 09:28 AM