Integrating behavior, hormones and genes associated with the primate HPA-axis

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In social species stressful interactions are pervasive and thus mounting an adequate behavioral and physiological stress response is crucial for an individual to maintain internal homeostasis. The central signaling pathway activated in response to stress in vertebrates is the HPA-axis. While experimental studies on humans started to link variation in genes associated with the HPA-axis to individual stress responsiveness, genetic influences on individual stress reactivity have been largely neglected in non-human primates. The few studies conducted on nonhuman primates also used experimental setups and mostly focussed on single candidate genes, rather than screening several gene loci related to HPA-axis functioning. In this project using non-invasive methods we will investigate how genetic predispositions shape the behavioral and endocrine response to naturally occurring stressors in individually known wild Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis) living in their natural habitat in Thailand. First, we will determine the variation in HPA-related genes by genotyping 50 polymorphisms in 19 genes involved in HPA-axis activity. Second, we will combine detailed behavioral data from individual adult males from four social groups with individual HPA-related genetic setup to link gene variants to behavioral styles. Third, we will link HPA-related gene variants to physiological stress-responsiveness towards naturally occurring social and environmental stressors in adult males. Together, these data will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the factors shaping stress responsiveness in primates including humans.