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Pet-1 ETS gene plays a critical role in 5-HT neuron development and is required for normal anxiety-like and aggressive behavior

  • Timothy J. Hendricks
  • , Dmitry V. Fyodorov
  • , Lauren J. Wegman
  • , Nadia B. Lelutiu
  • , Elizabeth A. Pehek
  • , Bryan Yamamoto
  • , Jerry Silver
  • , Edwin J. Weeber
  • , J. David Sweatt
  • , Evan S. Deneris

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The central serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmitter system is an important modulator of diverse physiological processes and behaviors; however, the transcriptional mechanisms controlling its development are largely unknown. The Pet-1 ETS factor is a precise marker of developing and adult 5-HT neurons and is expressed shortly before 5-HT appears in the hindbrain. Here we show that in mice lacking Pet-1, the majority of 5-HT neurons fail to differentiate. Remaining ones show deficient expression of genes required for 5-HT synthesis, uptake, and storage. Significantly, defective development of the 5-HT system is followed by heightened anxiety-like and aggressive behavior in adults. These findings indicate that Pet-1 is a critical determinant of 5-HT neuron identity and implicate a Pet-1-dependent program in serotonergic modulation of behavior.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)233-247
Number of pages15
JournalNeuron
Volume37
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 23 2003
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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