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

OBJECTIVES

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 () 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 mice. When tested for aggressive-like behaviors, we found a reduction in offense in 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 mice may promote the understanding of social and anxiety disorders.