Sørensen D B, Johnsen P F, Bibby B M, Böttner A, Bornstein S R, Eisenhofer G, Pacak K, Hansen A K
The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University of Copenhagen, Division of Laboratory Animal Science and Welfare, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Horm Metab Res. 2005 Mar;37(3):159-63. doi: 10.1055/s-2005-861301.
PNMT (phenylethanolamine-N-methyl-transferase) is the enzyme that catalyzes the formation of epinephrine from norepinephrine. In transgenic mice over-expressing PNMT, observations revealed a very high level of aggression compared to their background strain, C57BL/6J. To evaluate the influence of PNMT on aggression and emotionality in this transgenic line, single-sex male and female groups were independently established that consisted of either four wild-type mice or four transgenic mice overexpressing PNMT. The members of each group were littermates. Mixed single-sex groups consisting of two transgenic mice and two wild-type mice were also established. Almost no fights were observed within the female groups. In males, the transgenic line showed a significantly higher level of fighting than controls (p=0.007) and mixed male groups (p=0.02). Housing mice from the transgenic line in mixed groups with wild-type mice seems to decrease the level of aggression in the transgenic line. In conclusion, this is the first study to demonstrate a clear, significant increase in aggression arising from PNMT overexpression. This suggests an important role for central epinephrine levels in aggressive behavior.
苯乙醇胺 -N-甲基转移酶（PNMT）是一种催化去甲肾上腺素形成肾上腺素的酶。在过度表达PNMT的转基因小鼠中，观察发现与它们的背景品系C57BL/6J相比，其攻击性水平非常高。为了评估PNMT对该转基因品系中攻击性和情绪的影响，分别独立建立了由四只野生型小鼠或四只过度表达PNMT的转基因小鼠组成的单性别雄性和雌性组。每组的成员为同窝出生的小鼠。还建立了由两只转基因小鼠和两只野生型小鼠组成的混合单性别组。在雌性组中几乎未观察到打斗现象。在雄性中，转基因品系表现出比对照组（p = 0.007）和混合雄性组（p = 0.02）显著更高的打斗水平。将转基因品系的小鼠与野生型小鼠混养似乎会降低转基因品系的攻击性水平。总之，这是第一项证明因PNMT过度表达而导致攻击性明显显著增加的研究。这表明中枢肾上腺素水平在攻击行为中起重要作用。
