Vasopressin Receptor Polymorphism and Social Cognition

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案的长期目标是了解黑猩猩社会交往行为和认知的个体差异的遗传和神经生物学基础，黑猩猩是自闭症表型建模方面的潜在有价值物种。拟议的研究的一个目的是行为特征的一个相对较大的样本的黑猩猩（N = 290），他们的能力，启动和参与联合注意在两个结构化的任务进行评估种间通信。此外，在种间相互作用期间，将使用观察方法评价社会性和沟通措施。除了行为测量外，还将从每只黑猩猩中获得DNA样本和等位基因频率，并评估AVPR1A（血管加压素）和OXTR（催产素）基因的多态性变异。行为测量的表现变化将与这些基因的多态性变化相关，以及与非遗传因素相关，包括受试者的性别和早期养育史。这些分析将提供有价值的信息的作用，遗传和非遗传因素对社会交际能力的个体差异。还将在黑猩猩样本的一个子集中收集体内磁共振图像。根据MRI，将使用全脑基于体素的形态测定法（VBM）比较具有AVPR 1A和OXTR基因的不同基因型的受试者的灰质和白色物质完整性。这项分析将提供关键数据的作用，这些基因的发展组织的灰色和白色物质的完整性。此外，基于VBM分析，区分不同基因型的感兴趣的大脑区域将被量化，随后应用于个体MRI扫描。然后将个体MRI测量与行为表型相关联，以检查区分不同AVPR1A和OXTR基因型的大脑区域是否随后解释了社交能力的变化。集体研究将有助于我们理解影响皮质组织和社会交往能力的遗传和非遗传因素。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term objectives of this proposal are to understand the genetic and neurobiological basis of individual differences in socio-communicative behavior and cognition in the chimpanzee, a potential valuable species for modeling aspects of the autism phenotype. One aim of the proposed studies is to behavioral characterize a relatively large sample of chimpanzees (N = 290) on their ability to initiate and engage in joint attention during interspecies communication as assessed on two structured tasks. In addition, measures of sociality and communication will be evaluated during interspecies interaction using observational methods. In addition to the behavioral measures, DNA samples will be obtained from each chimpanzees and allele frequencies and assessment of polymorphic variation in the AVPR1A (vasopressin) and OXTR (oxytocin) genes. The variation in performance on the behavioral measures will be correlated with polymorphic variation in these genes as well as in relation to non-genetic factors including sex and early rearing history of the subjects. These analyses will provide valuable information on the role of genetic and non-genetic factors on individual differences in socio-communicative competencies. In vivo magnetic resonance images will also be collected in a subset of the chimpanzee sample. From the MRI, subjects with different genotypes for the AVPR1A and OXTR gene will be compared on grey and white matter integrity using whole brain, voxel-based morphometry (VBM). This analysis will provide critical data on the role of these genes on the development organization of grey and white matter integrity. In addition, based on the VBM analysis, brain regions of interest that distinguish different genotypes will be quantified and subsequently applied to individual MRI scans. The individual MRI measures will then be correlated with the behavioral phenotypes to examine whether the brain regions distinguishing different AVPR1A and OXTR genotypes subsequently explain variation in socio-communicative competencies. The collective studies will contribute to our understanding of genetic and non-genetic factors that influence cortical organization and socio-communicative competencies.