1. Oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with human directed social behavior in dogs (Canis familiaris)
- Author
-
Ildikó Brúder, Judit Vas, Gabriella Lakatos, Maria Sasvari-Szekely, Melinda Bence, Ádám Miklósi, Anna Kis, Zsolt Ronai, Levente Földi, Enikő Pergel, Jolanda Pluijmakers, Borbála Turcsán, Zsuzsanna Elek, and Enikő Kubinyi
- Subjects
Male ,Untranslated region ,Anatomy and Physiology ,Social and Behavioral Sciences ,Biochemistry ,Behavioral Neuroscience ,Sociology ,Medicine ,Regulation of gene expression ,Genetics ,Principal Component Analysis ,Social Research ,Multidisciplinary ,Animal Behavior ,Behavior, Animal ,Animal Models ,Receptors, Oxytocin ,Female ,Research Article ,medicine.drug ,Science ,Endocrine System ,Single-nucleotide polymorphism ,Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ,Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ,Model Organisms ,Dogs ,Animals ,Humans ,Social Behavior ,Biology ,Gene ,Genetic Association Studies ,DNA Primers ,Genetic association ,Endocrine Physiology ,Base Sequence ,business.industry ,Human Genetics ,Animal Cognition ,Oxytocin receptor ,Hormones ,Oxytocin ,business ,Animal Genetics ,Zoology ,Neuroscience ,Social behavior - Abstract
The oxytocin system has a crucial role in human sociality; several results prove that polymorphisms of the oxytocin receptor gene are related to complex social behaviors in humans. Dogs' parallel evolution with humans and their adaptation to the human environment has made them a useful species to model human social interactions. Previous research indicates that dogs are eligible models for behavioral genetic research, as well. Based on these previous findings, our research investigated associations between human directed social behaviors and two newly described (−212AG, 19131AG) and one known (rs8679684) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the regulatory regions (5′ and 3′ UTR) of the oxytocin receptor gene in German Shepherd (N = 104) and Border Collie (N = 103) dogs. Dogs' behavior traits have been estimated in a newly developed test series consisting of five episodes: Greeting by a stranger, Separation from the owner, Problem solving, Threatening approach, Hiding of the owner. Buccal samples were collected and DNA was isolated using standard protocols. SNPs in the 3′ and 5′ UTR regions were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction based techniques followed by subsequent electrophoresis analysis. The gene–behavior association analysis suggests that oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms have an impact in both breeds on (i) proximity seeking towards an unfamiliar person, as well as their owner, and on (ii) how friendly dogs behave towards strangers, although the mediating molecular regulatory mechanisms are yet unknown. Based on these results, we conclude that similarly to humans, the social behavior of dogs towards humans is influenced by the oxytocin system.
- Published
- 2014