Deletion of running-induced hippocampal neurogenesis by irradiation prevents development of an anxious phenotype in mice.

ABSTRACT: Recent evidence postulates a role of hippocampal neurogenesis in anxiety behavior. Here we report that elevated levels of neurogenesis elicit increased anxiety in rodents. Mice performing voluntary wheel running displayed both highly elevated levels of neurogenesis and increased anxiety in three different anxiety-like paradigms: the open field, elevated O-maze, and dark-light box. Reducing neurogenesis by focalized irradiation of the hippocampus abolished this exercise-induced increase of anxiety, suggesting a direct implication of hippocampal neurogenesis in this phenotype. On the other hand, irradiated mice explored less frequently the lit compartment of the dark-light box test irrespective of wheel running, suggesting that irradiation per se induced anxiety as well. Thus, our data sugge

SUBMITTER: Fuss J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2940841 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature