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Leonetti S, Cimarelli G, Hersh TA, Ravignani A. Why do dogs wag their tails? Biol Lett 2024; 20:20230407. [PMID: 38229554 PMCID: PMC10792393 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Tail wagging is a conspicuous behaviour in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Despite how much meaning humans attribute to this display, its quantitative description and evolutionary history are rarely studied. We summarize what is known about the mechanism, ontogeny, function and evolution of this behaviour. We suggest two hypotheses to explain its increased occurrence and frequency in dogs compared to other canids. During the domestication process, enhanced rhythmic tail wagging behaviour could have (i) arisen as a by-product of selection for other traits, such as docility and tameness, or (ii) been directly selected by humans, due to our proclivity for rhythmic stimuli. We invite testing of these hypotheses through neurobiological and ethological experiments, which will shed light on one of the most readily observed yet understudied animal behaviours. Targeted tail wagging research can be a window into both canine ethology and the evolutionary history of characteristic human traits, such as our ability to perceive and produce rhythmic behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Leonetti
- Comparative Bioacoustics Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Cimarelli
- Domestication Lab, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Taylor A. Hersh
- Comparative Bioacoustics Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University, Newport, OR, USA
| | - Andrea Ravignani
- Comparative Bioacoustics Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Tian R, Li Y, Zhao H, Lyu W, Zhao J, Wang X, Lu H, Xu H, Ren W, Tan QQ, Shi Q, Wang GD, Zhang YP, Lai L, Mi J, Jiang YH, Zhang YQ. Modeling SHANK3-associated autism spectrum disorder in Beagle dogs via CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3739-3750. [PMID: 37848710 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02276-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Despite intensive studies in modeling neuropsychiatric disorders especially autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in animals, many challenges remain. Genetic mutant mice have contributed substantially to the current understanding of the molecular and neural circuit mechanisms underlying ASD. However, the translational value of ASD mouse models in preclinical studies is limited to certain aspects of the disease due to the apparent differences in brain and behavior between rodents and humans. Non-human primates have been used to model ASD in recent years. However, a low reproduction rate due to a long reproductive cycle and a single birth per pregnancy, and an extremely high cost prohibit a wide use of them in preclinical studies. Canine model is an appealing alternative because of its complex and effective dog-human social interactions. In contrast to non-human primates, dog has comparable drug metabolism as humans and a high reproduction rate. In this study, we aimed to model ASD in experimental dogs by manipulating the Shank3 gene as SHANK3 mutations are one of most replicated genetic defects identified from ASD patients. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, we successfully generated and characterized multiple lines of Beagle Shank3 (bShank3) mutants that have been propagated for a few generations. We developed and validated a battery of behavioral assays that can be used in controlled experimental setting for mutant dogs. bShank3 mutants exhibited distinct and robust social behavior deficits including social withdrawal and reduced social interactions with humans, and heightened anxiety in different experimental settings (n = 27 for wild-type controls and n = 44 for mutants). We demonstrate the feasibility of producing a large number of mutant animals in a reasonable time frame. The robust and unique behavioral findings support the validity and value of a canine model to investigate the pathophysiology and develop treatments for ASD and potentially other psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, and CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Beijing Sinogene Biotechnology Co. Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, and CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Wen Lyu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, and CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jianping Zhao
- Beijing Sinogene Biotechnology Co. Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaomin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230022, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, and Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Huijuan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, and CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Wei Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, and CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Qing-Quan Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, and CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Qi Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, and CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Guo-Dong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, and Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Ya-Ping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, and Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Liangxue Lai
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Jidong Mi
- Beijing Sinogene Biotechnology Co. Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Yong-Hui Jiang
- Department of Genetics and Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
| | - Yong Q Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, and CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China.
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Völter CJ, Lonardo L, Steinmann MGGM, Ramos CF, Gerwisch K, Schranz MT, Dobernig I, Huber L. Unwilling or unable? Using three-dimensional tracking to evaluate dogs' reactions to differing human intentions. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20221621. [PMID: 36695031 PMCID: PMC9874264 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The extent to which dogs (Canis familiaris) as a domesticated species understand human intentions is still a matter of debate. The unwilling-unable paradigm has been developed to examine whether nonhuman animals are sensitive to intentions underlying human actions. In this paradigm, subjects tended to wait longer in the testing area when presented with a human that appeared willing but unable to transfer food to them compared to an unwilling (teasing) human. In the present study, we conducted the unwilling-unable paradigm with dogs using a detailed behavioural analysis based on machine-learning driven three-dimensional tracking. Throughout two preregistered experiments, we found evidence, in line with our prediction, that dogs reacted more impatiently to actions signalling unwillingness to transfer food rather than inability. These differences were consistent through two different samples of pet dogs (total n = 96) and they were evident also in the machine-learning generated three-dimensional tracking data. Our results therefore provide robust evidence that dogs distinguish between similar actions (leading to the same outcome) associated with different intentions. However, their reactions did not lead to any measurable preference for one experimenter over the other in a subsequent transfer phase. We discuss different cognitive mechanisms that might underlie dogs' performance in this paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph J. Völter
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lucrezia Lonardo
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Carolina Frizzo Ramos
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karoline Gerwisch
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Monique-Theres Schranz
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Iris Dobernig
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ludwig Huber
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Xiong Y, Hong H, Liu C, Zhang YQ. Social isolation and the brain: effects and mechanisms. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:191-201. [PMID: 36434053 PMCID: PMC9702717 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01835-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
An obvious consequence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is the worldwide reduction in social interaction, which is associated with many adverse effects on health in humans from babies to adults. Although social development under normal or isolated environments has been studied since the 1940s, the mechanism underlying social isolation (SI)-induced brain dysfunction remains poorly understood, possibly due to the complexity of SI in humans and translational gaps in findings from animal models. Herein, we present a systematic review that focused on brain changes at the molecular, cellular, structural and functional levels induced by SI at different ages and in different animal models. SI studies in humans and animal models revealed common socioemotional and cognitive deficits caused by SI in early life and an increased occurrence of depression and anxiety induced by SI during later stages of life. Altered neurotransmission and neural circuitry as well as abnormal development and function of glial cells in specific brain regions may contribute to the abnormal emotions and behaviors induced by SI. We highlight distinct alterations in oligodendrocyte progenitor cell differentiation and oligodendrocyte maturation caused by SI in early life and later stages of life, respectively, which may affect neural circuit formation and function and result in diverse brain dysfunctions. To further bridge animal and human SI studies, we propose alternative animal models with brain structures and complex social behaviors similar to those of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xiong
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Huilin Hong
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
| | - Cirong Liu
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031 China ,grid.511008.dShanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, 201210 China
| | - Yong Q. Zhang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309State Key Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China ,grid.410726.60000 0004 1797 8419University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101 China
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Dog models of human atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Mamm Genome 2022:10.1007/s00335-022-09965-w. [PMID: 36243810 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-022-09965-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Eighty-five percent of CVD-associated deaths are due to heart attacks and stroke. Atherosclerosis leads to heart attack and stroke through a slow progression of lesion formation and luminal narrowing of arteries. Dogs are similar to humans in terms of their cardiovascular physiology, size, and anatomy. Dog models have been developed to recapitulate the complex phenotype of human patients and understand the underlying mechanism of CVD. Different methods, including high-fat, high-cholesterol diet and genetic modification, have been used to generate dog models of human CVD. Remarkably, the location and severity of atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries and branches of the carotid arteries of dog models closely resemble those of human CVD patients. Overt clinical manifestations such as stroke caused by plaque rupture and thrombosis were observed in dog models. Thus, dog models can help define the pathophysiological mechanisms of atherosclerosis and develop potential strategy for preventing and treating CVD. In this review, we summarize the progress in generating and characterizing canine models to investigate CVD and discuss the advantages and limitations of canine CVD models.
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