Background
Studies have been inconsistent in demonstrating that early adversity and specific
genotype can be joint risk factors for poor behavioral outcomes. Using a rhesus monkey
model, we examined how social context and different forms of early adversity influence
whether a specific genotype (polymorphism in the promoter region of monoamine oxidase A [MAOA]) affects display of aggressive, fearful, and anxious behaviors.
Methods
Rhesus monkey infants (n = 473) were exposed to brief social challenge at age 3–4 months. Infants were reared
1) with mothers and up to 150 other animals in large cages; 2) with mothers in smaller
social groups; 3) with mother and access to, at most, one other mother–infant pair;
and 4) without mother but with access to a same-age peer in a nursery.
Results
No effects of genotype were found for infants reared by mothers in large social cages,
although several genotype by rearing environment interactions were evident. Animals
reared in smaller social groups were more likely to display aggression, which was
especially true of animals possessing the low-activity MAOA genotype. In addition, animals with low-activity genotypes that had experienced restricted
mother rearing showed more anxious behavior (scratch, yawn).
Conclusions
Among mother-reared animals, broader contextual features, associated with the social
environment and experience of the mother, can affect the extent to which genotype
contributes to behavioral expression under conditions of challenge. Results also suggest
that different forms of early adverse experience can affect the types of responses
displayed by animals of different genotypes.
Key Words
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: December 22, 2008
Accepted:
November 4,
2008
Received in revised form:
November 3,
2008
Received:
January 10,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
