Hoxb8基因对小鼠的正常梳理行为是必需的。

Hoxb8 is required for normal grooming behavior in mice.

作者信息

Greer Joy M, Capecchi Mario R

机构信息

Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.

出版信息

Neuron. 2002 Jan 3;33(1):23-34. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(01)00564-5.

DOI:10.1016/s0896-6273(01)00564-5

PMID:11779477

Abstract

Repertoires of grooming behaviors critical to survival are exhibited by most animal species, including humans. Genes that influence this complex behavior are unknown. We report that mice with disruptions of Hoxb8 show, with 100% penetrance, excessive grooming leading to hair removal and lesions. Additionally, these mice excessively groom normal cagemates. We have been unable to detect any skin or PNS abnormalities in Hoxb8 mutants. These observations suggest that the excessive, pathological grooming exhibited by these mice results from CNS abnormalities. Consistent with this interpretation, we demonstrate Hoxb8 expression in regions of the adult mouse CNS previously implicated in the control of grooming. The aberrant behavior observed in Hoxb8 mutants is not unlike that of humans suffering from the OC-spectrum disorder, trichotillomania. Interestingly, Hoxb8 is expressed in regions of the CNS known as the "OCD-circuit."

摘要

包括人类在内的大多数动物物种都会表现出对生存至关重要的梳理行为模式。影响这种复杂行为的基因尚不清楚。我们报告称，Hoxb8基因缺失的小鼠100%会出现过度梳理行为，导致毛发脱落和皮肤损伤。此外，这些小鼠还会过度梳理正常的笼养伙伴。我们在Hoxb8突变体中未检测到任何皮肤或外周神经系统异常。这些观察结果表明，这些小鼠表现出的过度、病理性梳理行为是由中枢神经系统异常导致的。与这一解释一致的是，我们证明了Hoxb8在成年小鼠中枢神经系统中先前与梳理行为控制有关的区域表达。在Hoxb8突变体中观察到的异常行为与患有强迫行为谱系障碍（OC-spectrum disorder）、拔毛癖的人类行为并无不同。有趣的是，Hoxb8在中枢神经系统中被称为“强迫症回路”（OCD-circuit）的区域表达。