Tetratricopeptide repeat domain 9A knockout induces social anxiety and impairs offense behaviors in female mice

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Neuromodulation Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China

2 Department of Physiology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong, P.R. China

3 School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore

4 School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Dayananda Sagar University, Bangalore, India

5 Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York, United States

Abstract

Objective(s): The involvement of tetratricopeptide repeat domain 9A (TTC9A) in anxiety-like behaviors through estrogen action has been reported in female mice, this study further investigated its effects on social anxiety and aggressive behaviors.
Materials and sMethods: Using female Ttc9a knockout (Ttc9a-/-) mice, the role of TTC9A in anxiety was investigated in non-social and social environments through home-cage emergence and social interaction tests, respectively, whereas aggressive behaviors were examined under the female intruder test. 
Results: We observed significant social behavioral deficits with pronounced social and non-social anxiogenic phenotypes in female Ttc9a-/- mice. When tested for aggressive-like behaviors, we found a reduction in offense in Ttc9a-/- animals, suggesting that TTC9A deficiency impairs the offense responses in female mice. 
Conclusion: Future study investigating mechanisms underlying the social anxiety-like behavioral changes in Ttc9a-/- mice may promote the understanding of social and anxiety disorders. 

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
Volume 25, Issue 6
June 2022
Pages 698-703

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