Neuron-Glia-Ratio-Like Approach Evidenced for Limited Variability and In-Aggregate Circadian Shifts in Cortical Cell-Specific Transcriptomes.

Regardless of shifts in levels of individual transcripts, it remains elusive whether natural variability in cell-specific transcriptomes within the cerebral cortex is limited in aggregate. It is also unclear whether cortical cell-specific transcriptomes might change dynamically in absence of cell number changes. Total variation in neuron- and glia-specific in-aggregate transcriptomes could be identified in a model-free way via glia-neuron ratio approach, by univariate median-to-median ratios comparing integral levels of cell-specific transcripts within a tissue sample.

Genetic architecture of tameness in a rat model of animal domestication.

A common feature of domestic animals is tameness-i.e., they tolerate and are unafraid of human presence and handling.

Some features of learning in the Morris water test in rats selected for responses to humans.

The characteristics of learning in the Morris water test were studied in gray rats subjected to prolonged selection for elimination (the tame strain) and enhanced (the aggressive strain) aggressivity towards humans. Blood corticosterone levels at different stages of learning were also estimated. Tame rats learned to locate the invisible platform better than aggressive rats.

Phenotypic differences in behavior, physiology and neurochemistry between rats selected for tameness and for defensive aggression towards humans.

To better understand the biology of tameness, i.e. tolerance of human presence and handling, we analyzed two lines of wild-derived rats (Rattus norvegicus) artificially selected for tameness and defensive aggression towards humans.