Abstract :
A subset of serotonin (5-HT) pathway polymorphisms has been shown to confer risk for psychological dysfunction, particularly in individuals who experience
early adversity. Understanding the developmental processes underlying these GeneEnvironment interactions will strengthen the search for risk factors
for behavioral dysfunction. We investigated the combined influence of two serotonin pathway polymorphisms and species-atypical, and possibly adverse,
rearing (nursery rearing [NR]) on two dimensions of behavioral stress response in infant rhesus macaques. We hypothesized that the experience of NR and
possession of both “high-risk” genotypes (genotypes that are thought to confer low 5-HT function) would predict the greatest behavioral stress response
to maternal/social separation. Using a matched-pair design, the impact of early experience and the serotonin transporter (rh5-HTTLPR) and monoamine
oxidase A (rhMAO-A-LPR) promoter polymorphisms on behavioral reactivity of 136 infant rhesus macaques (90–120 days of age) during a 25-hr social
separation/relocation procedurewas assessed. Each pair included one infant reared with mother in a large, outdoor field enclosure (field rearing) and one infant
reared in a nursery (NR). Pairs were matched for putative gene activity of each polymorphism, sex, age, and weight at testing. Behavioral responses in a
“human intruder” test were recorded, and activity and emotional reactivity composites were created to detect different aspects of psychological adaptation to
stress. Our hypothesis that high-risk groups would be the most reactive to stress was not entirely borne out. Rh5-HTTLPRrhMAOA-LPR interactions
predicted emotional reactivity and tended to predict behavioral activity scores. Carriers of the two “low-risk” alleles exhibited the lowest behavioral activity,
as might be predicted, but carriers of both “high-risk” alleles were two of four genotype groups exhibiting the highest observed Emotional Reactivity.
GeneGene interactions were exacerbated by the experience of nursery rearing, as predicted, however. Finally, we suggest that genetic or environmental
factors may mitigate the risk for behavioral dysregulation illustrated in the patterns of behavioral activity and emotional reactivity displayed by infants.
