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 Department of Behavioural Biology Last edited on 19.11.2010



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Gene/Environment Interaction in the Control of Emotional, Cognitive and Social Behaviour

The development of new techniques in molecular biology over the past years enabled the generation of genetically modified mice - either transgenic or knockout mice. These animals provide valuable model systems to investigate the connection between genes and complex behaviour. The research of genetically modified mice raises high expectations since it might shed light onto illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, addictions or anxiety disorders. In the department of behavioural biology we developed and established standardised procedures to characterise cognition, emotion and complex behaviour of these mice (please find publications concerning behaviour analysis here). By means of these methods we investigate how the interaction of certain candidate genes with environmental circumstances controls anxiety-related behaviour, modulates aggression or leads to symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, we investigated the effects of a small non-coding RNA (BC1 RNA) on behaviour, showed the impact of a supernumerous X chromosome and analysed the role of the neurotrophic factor G-CSF.

Top 3 publications of our research group regarding this topic:

  • Ambrée, O; Leimer, U; Herring, A; Görtz, N; Sachser, N; Heneka, MT; Paulus, W; Keyvani, K (2006): Reduction of amyloid angiopathy and Abeta plaque burden after enriched housing in TgCRND8 mice: involvement of multiple pathways. American Journal of Pathology 169(2): 544-552.


Gene/Environment Interaction and the Alzheimer’s disease

For investigating the Alzheimer’s disease we work with transgenic mice (TgCRND8), which carry a modified version of the gene coding for the human amyloid precursor protein. At approximately 3 months of age mice carrying this gene develop neuropathological (amyloid plaques in the brain) and behavioural (diminishing cognitive abilities) symptoms of the Alzheimer’s disease. Interestingly, these characteristics seem to be attenuated or do not appear at all when the animals are housed in a complex and stimulating environment. By investigating this interplay between genetic factors and environment we aim at understanding the underlying mechanisms.

Publications on Alzheimer’s disease

  • Herring, A; Blome, M; , Ambrée, O; Sachser, N; Paulus, W; Keyvani, K (2010): Reduction of cerebral oxidative stress following environmental enrichment in transgenic mice with Alzheimer-like pathology. Brain Pathology 20: 166-175.

  • Herring, A; Ambrée, O; Tomm, M; Habermann, H; Sachser, N; Paulus, W; Keyvani, K (2009): Environmental enrichment enhances cellular plasticity in transgenic mice with Alzheimer-like pathology. Experimental Neurology 216(1): 184-192.

  • Herring, A; Hamzah, Y; Ambrée, O; Sachser, N; Paulus, W; Keyvani, K (2008): Environmental enrichment counteracts Alzheimer's neurovascular dysfunction in TgCRND8 mice. Brain Patlology 18: 32-39.

  • Ambrée, O; Leimer, U; Herring, A; Görtz, N; Sachser, N; Heneka, MT; Paulus, W; Keyvani, K (2006): Reduction of amyloid angiopathy and Abeta plaque burden after enriched housing in TgCRND8 mice: involvement of multiple pathways. American Journal of Pathology 169(2): 544-552.


Gene/Environment Interactions in the Control of Anxiety-Like Behaviour

Anxiety disorders in humans are often associated with dysfunctions of the serotonergic system. The control of fear and anxiety particularly depends on the amount of available serotonin transporter (5-HTT): People with a genetic predisposition for a lower serotonin transporter production bear a higher risk to develop anxiety-disorders. This evidence led to the generation of serotonin transporter knockout mice, with mice carrying both alleles for the serotonin transporter, only one of the two alleles or none allele. In the department of behavioural biology we analyse in this model system the interaction of the serotonin transporter genotype and threatening environmental influences during early-life phases for the expression of anxiety-like behaviour in adulthood. Furthermore, we investigate to what extent anxiety-like behaviour can be modified by important life-events during adulthood.

Publications regarding serotonin transporter (5-HTT) genotype and anxiety:


Gene/Environment Interactions in the Control of Aggressive Behaviour

The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) genotype is not only involved in the modulation of fear and anxiety. It is further a key regulator for the entire social behaviour. Therefore, we also investigate how individual behavioural profiles are shaped by the interaction of the serotonin transporter genotype, the environmental situation, and social experiences with a special focus on aggressive behaviour.

Puiblications on the biology of aggression:
  • Marashi, V; Barnekow, A; Sachser, N (2004): Effects of environmental enrichment on males of a docile inbred strain of mice. Physiology & Behavior 82: 765-776.

  • Prior, H; Schwegler, H; Marashi, V; Sachser, N (2004): Exploration, emotionality, and hippocampal mossy fibers in nonaggressive AB/Gat and congenic highly aggressive mice. Hippocampus 14: 135-140.

  • Marashi, V; Barnekow, A; Ossendorf, E; Sachser, N (2003): Effects of different forms of environmental enrichment on behavioral, stressphysiological, and immunological parameters in male mice. Hormones and Behavior 43: 281-292.

  • Sachser, N; Lick, C; Stanzel, K (1994): The environment, hormones and aggressive behaviour - a five-year-study in guinea pigs. Psychoneuroendocrinology 19: 697-707.



Publications on methods of behavioural phenotyping:

  • Kritzler, M; Lewejohann, L; Krüger (2007): Analysing Movement and Behavioural Patterns of Laboratory Mice in a Semi Natural Environment Based on Data collected via RFID-Technology. In: Gottfried, B (ed.): Workshop on Behaviour Monitoring and Interpretation. Osnabrück.



Further publications on (molecular) behavioural genetics and gene/environment interactions:

  • Diederich, K; Schäbitz, W-R; Kuhnert, K; Hellström, N; Sachser, N; Schneider, A; Kuhn, G; Knecht, S (2009): Synergetic effects of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and cognitive training on spatial learning and survival of newborn hippocampal neurons. PLoSONE 4(4):e5303.

  • Keyvani, K; Sachser, N; Witte, OW; Paulus, W (2004): Gene expression, profiling in the intact and injured brain environment enrichment. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology 63 (6): 598-609.

  • Marashi, V; Barnekow, A; Sachser, N (2004): Effects of environmental enrichment on males of a docile inbred strain of mice. Physiology & Behavior 82: 765-776.

  • Prior, H; Schwegler, H; Marashi, V; Sachser, N (2004): Exploration, emotionality, and hippocampal mossy fibers in nonaggressive AB/Gat and congenic highly aggressive mice. Hippocampus 14: 135-140.

  • Marashi, V; Barnekow, A; Ossendorf, E; Sachser, N (2003): Effects of different forms of environmental enrichment on behavioral, stressphysiological, and immunological parameters in male mice. Hormones and Behavior 43: 281-292.



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