Gene expression profiles underlying aggressive behavior in the prefrontal cortex of cattle

This study compared gene expression profiles of 16 prefrontal cortex (PFC) samples from aggressive and non-aggressive cattle breeds: Lidia, selected for agonistic responses, and Wagyu, specialized on meat production and selected for tameness. RNA sequencing was used to identify and classify 918 up and 278 down-regulated differentiated expressed genes (DEG). The functional interpretation of the up-regulated genes in the aggressive cohort revealed enrichment of pathways such as the Alzheimer disease-presenilin, integrins or the ERK/MAPK signaling cascade, all implicated in the development of abnormal aggressive behaviors and neurophysiological disorders. Moreover, gonadotropins, leading to testosterone release, are also up-regulated as a natural mechanisms enhancing aggression. Concomitantly, heterotrimeric G-protein pathways, associated with low reactivity mental states, and the GAD2 gene, a repressor of agonistic reactions at the PFC, are down-regulated, guaranteeing the development of the adequate responses required by the aggressive Lidia cattle. We also identified six upstream regulators, whose functional activity fits with the etiology of abnormal behavioral responses associated with aggression. Overall design: 16 non-castrated male bovines 8 belonging to the Lidia breed and 8 from the Wagyu breed, for the aggressive and non-aggressive cohorts respectively