ePoster

Elevated reactive aggression in forebrain-specific CCN2 knockout mice

Li-Jen Lee, Ho-Ching Chang, Chi-Hou Ng, Kuang-Yung Lee
FENS Forum 2024(2024)
Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Conference

FENS Forum 2024

Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Resources

Authors & Affiliations

Li-Jen Lee, Ho-Ching Chang, Chi-Hou Ng, Kuang-Yung Lee

Abstract

CCN2 is a matricellular protein that plays important roles in connective tissue. CCN2 is also expressed in the nervous system; however, its role is still unclear. To explore CCN2 function in the brain, we generated forebrain-specific Ccn2 knockout (FbCcn2 KO) mice. In this study, we examined the behavioral phenotypes of FbCcn2KO mice. Male mice lacking CCN2 in the forebrain exhibited normal locomotion, sensorimotor gating, and social behaviors but signs of anxiety and elevated reactive aggression. We checked the c-fos expression in aggression-related brain regions following the resident-intruder task (RIT), an aggression test. RIT-induced c-fos levels in the medial amygdala were higher in FbCcn2-/- mice as compared to controls. However, in the prefrontal cortex, RIT-induced c-fos levels in FbCcn2-/- mice were lower than controls. Our results suggested in male mice lacking CCN2 in the olfaction-related regions, olfactory social cues elicit greater signals in the medial amygdala, resulting in greater reactive aggression in the RIT. Further, lacking CCN2 in the prefrontal cortex, the major area related to inhibitory control and emotion regulation, may lead to signs of anxiety and the failure to suppress aggressive behaviors. Our model is useful in elaborating the mechanism underlying reactive aggression and therapeutic strategies.

Unique ID: fens-24/elevated-reactive-aggression-forebrain-specific-a7d86342