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Published on: May 10, 2015
Vmat2 heterozygous mutant mice display a depressive-like phenotype
Masato Fukui1, Ramona M Rodriguiz, Jiechun Zhou
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Mouse Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Analysis Core Facility, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
Summary
Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) heterozygote mice exhibit depressive-like behaviors, including reduced activity and anhedonia. Their learned helplessness is more pronounced, but they do not show increased anxiety.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) is crucial for monoamine transport in the central nervous system (CNS).
- VMAT2 inhibition by reserpine can induce depressive symptoms in humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if Vmat2 heterozygous (HET) mice exhibit depressive-like behaviors.
- To assess anxiety-like behaviors in HET mice.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral tests including open field, forced swim, tail suspension, and learned helplessness paradigms.
- Assessment of sucrose preference and corticosterone levels.
- Pharmacological interventions with antidepressants and receptor binding assays.
Main Results:
- HET mice displayed locomotor and rearing deficits, anhedonia, and increased immobility in forced swim and tail suspension tests.
- Learned helplessness was more severe in HET mice, with heightened corticosterone response to stress.
- No significant differences in anxiety-like behaviors were observed between HET and wild-type (WT) mice.
Conclusions:
- Vmat2 heterozygosity leads to a depressive-like phenotype in mice.
- This phenotype is characterized by specific behavioral deficits and altered stress response, without accompanying anxiety-like behaviors.
