Bence, Melinda

Kis, Anna

Kubinyi, Enikő

Lakatos, Gabriella

Perkel, E.

Pluijmakers, J.

Rónai, Zsolt

Turcsán, Borbála

Repository of the Academy's Library

! 40 Presentation 9: Thursday July 4, 10.00 – 10.20  Oxytocin receptor gene is associated with human directed social behaviour in dogs (Canis familiaris)  Kis Anna1,2, Bence Melinda3, Lakatos Gabriella3, Pergel Enikő4, Turcsán Borbála1, Pluijmakers Jolanda5, Rónai Zsolt4, Kubinyi Enikő3 1Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary, 2Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 3MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group, 4Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary, 5Department of Ethology and Animal Welfare, Catholic University College Ghent, Belgium  Dogs’ coevolution with humans and their adaptation to the human environment has made them a perfect model species to study human social interactions. Previous research indicates that dogs are eligible models for behavioural genetic research, as well. The oxytocin system has a crucial role in human sociality; various results prove that polymorphisms of the oxytocin receptor gene are related to complex social behaviours in humans. Based on these previous findings, our research investigated associations between certain socio-cognitive skills and eight newly described single nucleotid polymorphisms (SNPs) in the regulatory regions (5’ and 3’ UTR) of the oxytocin receptor gene in five breeds of dogs (German Shepherds, Border Collies, Beagles, Hungarian Vizslas, Labrador and Golden Retrievers). A total of 280 dogs were tested in a battery consisting of five episodes: Greeting by a stranger, Separation from the Owner, Problem solving, Threatening approach, Hiding. Behavioural variables were grouped into three independent scales with a Principal Component Analysis: Reaction to unfamiliar human, Behaviour during separation from and reunion with the owner, Human-directed gazing during problem solving. 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–behaviour association analysis suggests that oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms have an impact on (i) how dogs react to an unfamiliar person, (ii) how dogs behave during separation from and reunion with the owner, and (iii) whether dogs look at humans for help while solving a problem. Based on all these results, we conclude that the social behaviour of dogs towards humans is related to the oxytocin system, similarly to humans. Furthermore, our research confirms and extends the view that dogs can be used as model animals for behavioural genetic research.   

Oxytocin receptor gene is accepted with human directed social behaviour in dogs (Canis familiaris).

Oxytocin receptor gene is accepted with human directed social behaviour in dogs (Canis familiaris).

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Repository of the Academy's Library