Pet-1 is required across different stages of life to regulate serotonergic function

Nat Neurosci. 2010 Oct;13(10):1190-8. doi: 10.1038/nn.2623. Epub 2010 Sep 5.

Abstract

Transcriptional cascades are required for the specification of serotonin (5-HT) neurons and behaviors modulated by 5-HT. Several cascade factors are expressed throughout the lifespan, which suggests that their control of behavior might not be temporally restricted to programming normal numbers of 5-HT neurons. We used new mouse conditional targeting approaches to investigate the ongoing requirements for Pet-1 (also called Fev), a cascade factor that is required for the initiation of 5-HT synthesis, but whose expression persists into adulthood. We found that Pet-1 was required after the generation of 5-HT neurons for multiple steps in 5-HT neuron maturation, including axonal innervation of the somatosensory cortex, expression of appropriate firing properties, and the expression of the Htr1a and Htr1b autoreceptors. Pet-1 was still required in adult 5-HT neurons to preserve normal anxiety-related behaviors through direct autoregulated control of serotonergic gene expression. These findings indicate that Pet-1 is required across the lifespan of the mouse and that behavioral pathogenesis can result from both developmental and adult-onset alterations in serotonergic transcription.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / pharmacology
  • Age Factors
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation / methods
  • Estrogen Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Motor Activity / genetics
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques / methods
  • Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase / genetics
  • Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Raphe Nuclei / cytology
  • Raphe Nuclei / embryology
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / metabolism
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B / metabolism
  • Serotonin / physiology*
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / pharmacology
  • Somatosensory Cortex / cytology
  • Somatosensory Cortex / embryology
  • Tamoxifen / pharmacology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Tryptophan Hydroxylase / metabolism
  • Xanthenes / metabolism

Substances

  • Estrogen Antagonists
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Fev protein, mouse
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists
  • Slc6a4 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • Xanthenes
  • Tamoxifen
  • Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A
  • Lox protein, mouse
  • Serotonin
  • 8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin
  • Texas red
  • Tryptophan Hydroxylase
  • Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase