Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System01:15

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

7.9K
The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...
7.9K
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis01:37

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

67.4K
The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.
67.4K
Anxiety: Overview01:18

Anxiety: Overview

1.2K
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
1.2K
Regulation of Food Intake01:30

Regulation of Food Intake

3.0K
Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
3.0K
Generalized Anxiety Disorder01:30

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

826
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
826

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Mapping self-associating chromatin hubs identifies Id proteins as key determinants of exhausted CD8<sup>+</sup> T cell fate.

Nature immunology·2026
Same author

Exhausted CD8<sup>+</sup> T cell fate is programmed by dynamic CTCF-mediated enhancer activation and invariant CTCF-imposed barriers.

Nature immunology·2026
Same author

Correction to: Is Gout and Autoinflammatory Disease?

Current rheumatology reports·2026
Same author

Innovative Use of Rapid Qualitative Methods to Inform Neurological Services at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Medical care research and review : MCRR·2026
Same author

Roles of sonic hedgehog signaling in retinal patterning and neurogenesis during mammalian eye development.

Development (Cambridge, England)·2026
Same author

Transcultural headache medicine: A framework for integrating cultural contexts into headache science and care - a call to action from the International Headache Society.

Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Localization of the Locus Coeruleus in the Mouse Brain
07:44

Localization of the Locus Coeruleus in the Mouse Brain

Published on: March 7, 2019

19.2K

Lef1-dependent hypothalamic neurogenesis inhibits anxiety.

Yuanyuan Xie1, Dan Kaufmann2, Matthew J Moulton3

  • 1Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America.

Plos Biology
|August 25, 2017
PubMed
Summary

The transcription factor Lef1 is crucial for developing anxiety-reducing neurons in animals. This conserved pathway shows evolutionary divergence in mammals but maintains importance for anxiety regulation across species.

More Related Videos

Functional Interrogation of Adult Hypothalamic Neurogenesis with Focal Radiological Inhibition
11:45

Functional Interrogation of Adult Hypothalamic Neurogenesis with Focal Radiological Inhibition

Published on: November 14, 2013

12.7K
Optogenetic Manipulation of Neuronal Activity to Modulate Behavior in Freely Moving Mice
14:40

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neuronal Activity to Modulate Behavior in Freely Moving Mice

Published on: October 27, 2020

20.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Localization of the Locus Coeruleus in the Mouse Brain
07:44

Localization of the Locus Coeruleus in the Mouse Brain

Published on: March 7, 2019

19.2K
Functional Interrogation of Adult Hypothalamic Neurogenesis with Focal Radiological Inhibition
11:45

Functional Interrogation of Adult Hypothalamic Neurogenesis with Focal Radiological Inhibition

Published on: November 14, 2013

12.7K
Optogenetic Manipulation of Neuronal Activity to Modulate Behavior in Freely Moving Mice
14:40

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neuronal Activity to Modulate Behavior in Freely Moving Mice

Published on: October 27, 2020

20.2K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Innate behaviors are conserved across the animal kingdom.
  • The developmental pathways for neuronal populations mediating innate behaviors are not fully understood.
  • The role of signaling pathways in regulating these behaviors across diverse species remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if common signaling pathways regulate the development of neuronal populations mediating innate behaviors in diverse organisms.
  • To determine the role of the Wnt/ß-catenin effector Lef1 in the differentiation of anxiolytic hypothalamic neurons.
  • To explore the evolutionary conservation and divergence of Lef1-dependent pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of Lef1 function in zebrafish and mice.
  • Identification of Lef1-dependent genes in neuroendocrine organs of zebrafish and Drosophila.
  • Examination of ortholog gene expression in primate hypothalami (marmosets and humans).

Main Results:

  • Lef1 is essential for anxiolytic hypothalamic neuron differentiation in both zebrafish and mice.
  • The specific Lef1-dependent genes and neurons differ between zebrafish and mice.
  • Zebrafish and Drosophila share common Lef1-dependent gene expression in neuroendocrine organs, indicating pathway conservation.
  • Orthologs of Lef1-dependent genes show correlated hypothalamic expression in primates, suggesting parallel anxiolytic pathways.

Conclusions:

  • The transcription factor Lef1 plays a conserved role in regulating anxiety across diverse species.
  • Evolution has led to divergence in Lef1-dependent mechanisms for anxiety regulation, particularly in mammals.
  • Lef1 regulates circuit development critical for mediating anxiety, highlighting its fundamental importance in animal behavior.