Self‐injurious behaviours in rhesus macaques: Potential glial mechanisms
Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Self-injurious behaviour (SIB) can be classified as intentional, direct injuring of body tissue usually without suicidal intent. In its non-suicidal form it is commonly seen as a clinical sign of borderline personality disorder, autism, PTSD, depression, and anxiety affecting a wide range of ages and conditions. In rhesus macaques SIB is most commonly manifested through hair plucking, self-biting, self-hitting, and head banging. SIB in the form of self-biting is observed in approximately 5-15% of individually housed monkeys. Recently, glial cells are becoming recognised as key players in regulating behaviours. METHOD: The goal of this study was to determine the role of glial activation, including astrocytes, in macaques that had displayed SIB. To this end, we performed immunohistochemistry and next generation sequence of brain tissues from rhesus macaques with SIB. RESULTS: Our studies showed increased vimentin, but not nestin, expression on astrocytes of macaques displaying SIB. Initial RNA Seq analyses indicate activation of pathways involved in tissue remodelling, neuroinflammation and cAMP signalling. CONCLUSIONS: Glia are most probably activated in primates with self-injury, and are therefore potential novel targets for therapeutics.
DOI: 10.1111/jir.12558
Authors: J. Ramsey, E. C. Martin, O. M. Purcell, K. M. Lee, A. G. MacLean
Institutions: Tulane University, Tulane Medical Center
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: Presbyterian Historical Society, Tulane University, Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH Office of the Director, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
OpenAlex ID: W2901451139