Genetic variation in the social environment affects behavioral phenotypes of oxytocin receptor mutants in zebrafish

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.56973
• Publication Date: 2020-08-04T12:01:11Z
• Authors: Diogo Ribeiro; Ana Rita Nunes; Magda Teles; Savani Anbalagan; Janna Blechman; Gil Levkowitz; Rui F Oliveira
• Keywords: Male; 0301 basic medicine; Genotype; QH301-705.5; Science; social genetic effects; Social Environment; social behavior; Gene Knockout Techniques; 03 medical and health sciences; oxytocin; Animals; Biology (General); Social Behavior; Zebrafish; indirect genetic effects; 0303 health sciences; gxe interaction; Ecology; Behavior, Animal; Q; R; Genetic Variation; zebrafish; Phenotype; Receptors, Oxytocin; Mutation; Medicine; Female

Oxytocin-like peptides have been implicated in the regulation of a wide range of social behaviors across taxa. On the other hand, the social environment, which is composed of conspecifics that may vary in their genotypes, also influences social behavior, creating the possibility for indirect genetic effects. Here, we used a zebrafish oxytocin receptor knockout line to investigate how the genotypic composition of the social environment (Gs) interacts with the oxytocin genotype of the focal individual (Gi) in the regulation of its social behavior. For this purpose, we have raised wild-type or knock-out zebrafish in either wild-type or knock-out shoals and tested different components of social behavior in adults. GixGs effects were detected in some behaviors, highlighting the need to control for GixGs effects when interpreting results of experiments using genetically modified animals, since the genotypic composition of the social environment can either rescue or promote phenotypes associated with specific genes.