Study of genes associated with the ‘anger-in’ and ‘anger-out’ emotions of humans using a rat model

Yinghui Guo,Huiyun Zhang,Mingqi Qiao,Peng Sun,Chunhong Song,Sheng Wei,Jie Gao

doi:10.3892/etm.2015.2246

Yinghui Guo, Huiyun Zhang + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2246

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the genes associated with ‘anger-in’ (tendency to suppress anger) and ‘anger-out’ (tendency to express anger through verbal or physical means) emotions in humans. Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n=10/group), based on the type of model and the Chinese medicinal formulation administered, and the rat models were established. The five groups were as follows: Normal control (control), anger-in model (AIM), anger-in Jingqianshu-administered (AIA), anger-out model (AOM) and anger-out Jingqianping-administered (AOA). Open-field, resident-intruder and aggressive behavior tests were carried out, as well as gene expression analysis, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses. The body weights of the rats in the AIM and AOM groups were significantly lower than those of the control group rats. The open-field test indicated that the scores in the AOM group were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those in the AIM group. The aggression scores of the rats in the AOM group were significantly higher than those of the AIM group rats. Jingqianshu and Jingqianping granules attenuated the behavioral changes of the rats. 5-Htr2C, GABABR2 and 5-Htr3B were associated with anger-in and anger-out emotions. Jingqianping and Jingqianshu granules attenuated the changes in the mRNA expression of 5-Htr2C, GABABR2 and 5-Htr3B, as indicated by RT-qPCR, and showed similar effects on protein expression, as demonstrated by western blot analysis. The present study demonstrated that the anger-in and anger-out emotions of rats are closely associated with 5-Htr2C, GABABR2 and 5-Htr3B genes, and that Jingqianshu and Jingqianping granules attenuate the abnormal behaviors of model rats. These findings may be useful for the treatment of emotional disorders associated with anger.

Highlights

~5% of people worldwide suffer from emotional disorders [1]
A total of 50 male Wistar rats were divided into five groups, with 10 rats in each group
Anger emotion rat models were established through social isolation and resident‐intruder methods

Summary

Introduction

~5% of people worldwide suffer from emotional disorders [1]. Among the negative emotions, anger is one of the most intolerable and the most closely associated with the occurrence of diseases, such as cardiovascular events [2]. The endocrine system is activated, causing an increase in the levels of cortisol, angiotensin, thyroxine, hyperglycemic factor and hormones from the posterior pituitary lobe in the blood. These exert an effect on the liver and other organs and may cause a series of disorders [3]. A previous study reported that dysfunction of the network consisting of the nervous, endocrine and immune systems is frequently observed during senescence and other complex diseases, including cancer, diabetes, hypertension and asthma [4]. Clinical and animal experimental studies, Qiao et al [6] observed that anger was expressed in two different manners: ‘Anger‐in’ (tendency to suppress anger) and ‘anger‐out’ (tendency to express anger through verbal or physical means); the mechanisms underlying this manner of expression remain incompletely understood [6,7,8]

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