Hypersociability in the Angelman syndrome mouse model.

We report that mice with maternally-inherited Ube3a gene deletion (Ube3a(mKO)) have a prolonged preference for, and interaction with, social stimuli in the three chamber social approach task. By contrast, interactions with a novel object are reduced. Further, ultrasonic vocalizations and physical contacts are increased in male and female Ube3a(mKO) mice paired with an unfamiliar genotype-matched female. Single housing wild type mice increased these same social behavior parameters to levels observed in Ube3a(mKO) mice where this effect was partially occluded. These results indicate sociability is repressed by social experience and the endogenous levels of UBE3A protein and suggest some social behavioral features observed in Angelman syndrome may reflect an increased social motivation. PMID: 28411125 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Experimental Neurology - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Exp Neurol Source Type: research