Identification of Serotonergic Neuronal Modules that Affect Aggressive Behavior.

ABSTRACT: Escalated aggression can have devastating societal consequences, yet underlying neurobiological mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we show significantly increased inter-male mouse aggression when neurotransmission is constitutively blocked from either of two subsets of serotonergic, Pet1⁺ neurons: one identified by dopamine receptor D1(Drd1a)::cre-driven activity perinatally, and the other by Drd2::cre from pre-adolescence onward. Blocking neurotransmission from other Pet1⁺ neuron subsets of similar size and/or overlapping anatomical domains had no effect on aggression compared with controls, suggesting subtype-specific serotonergic neuron influences on aggression. Using established and novel intersectional genetic tools, we further characterized these subtypes a

SUBMITTER: Niederkofler V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5156533 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature