Hippocampal Gene Expression in bred High Responder (bHR) vs. bred Low Responder (bLR) Rats: Illumina Microarray Data from Generation F15

The strong pattern of comorbidity amongst psychiatric disorders is believed to be generated by a spectrum of latent liability, arising from a complex interplay of genetic risk and environmental factors, such as stress and childhood adversity. At one end of this spectrum are internalizing disorders, which are associated with neuroticism, anxiety, and depression. At the other end of the spectrum are externalizing disorders, which are associated with risk-taking and novelty-seeking, as seen in mania, substance abuse, and impulse-control disorders. We model the genetic contributions underlying both extremes of this spectrum by selectively breeding rats that react differently to a novel environment. “Bred high responder” (bHR) rats are highly exploratory with a disinhibited, novelty-seeking temperament, including hyperactivity, aggression, and drug-seeking. “Bred low responder” (bLR) rats are highly-inhibited, exhibiting reduced locomotor activity and anxious and depressive-like behavior. These behavioral propensities are robust and stable, beginning early in development similar to temperament in humans. This Illumina (RatRef-12v1 Beadchip) microarray study examined gene expression in the hippocampus in generation F15 male bHR rats and bLR rats at age postnatal day 14 (P14, n=6 per group).

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Birt IA, Hagenauer MH, Clinton SM, Aydin C, Blandino P Jr, Stead JDH, Hilde KL, Meng F, Thompson RC, Khalil H, Stefanov A, Maras P, Zhou Z, Hebda-Bauer EK, Goldman D, Watson SJ Jr, Akil H