biostudies-literatureBortolato MNICHD NIH HHSNIMH NIH HHS2674-88https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3230491biostudies-literatureUnknown36(13)Monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A is a key enzyme for the degradation of brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE). In humans and mice, total MAO-A deficiency results in high 5-HT and NE levels, as well as elevated reactive aggression. Here we report the generation of MAO-A(Neo) mice, a novel line of hypomorphic MAO-A mutants featuring the insertion of a floxed neomycin-resistance cassette in intron-12 of the Maoa gene. This construct resulted in a chimeric, non-functional variant of the Maoa-Neo transcript, with a truncated C-terminus, likely due to aberrant splicing; these deficits notwithstanding, small amounts of functional Maoa transcript were found in the brain of MAO-A(Neo) mice. In the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, MAO-A(Neo) mice showed low, yet detectable, MAONeuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of NeuropsychopharmacologySocial deficits and perseverative behaviors, but not overt aggression, in MAO-A hypomorphic mice.PMC3230491R03 MH087794R01MH39085R37 MH039085R03MH087794R21 HD070611R37MH39085R01 MH039085R21HD070611Scott ALBortolato MShih JCWellman CLChen KGodar SCFarrell MRChen GRebrin IWu WfalseSocial deficits and perseverative behaviors, but not overt aggression, in MAO-A hypomorphic mice.Monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A is a key enzyme for the degradation of brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE). In humans and mice, total MAO-A deficiency results in high 5-HT and NE levels, as well as elevated reactive aggression. Here we report the generation of MAO-A(Neo) mice, a novel line of hypomorphic MAO-A mutants featuring the insertion of a floxed neomycin-resistance cassette in intron-12 of the Maoa gene. This construct resulted in a chimeric, non-functional variant of the Maoa-Neo transcript, with a truncated C-terminus, likely due to aberrant splicing; these deficits notwithstanding, small amounts of functional Maoa transcript were found in the brain of MAO-A(Neo) mice. In the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, MAO-A(Neo) mice showed low, yet detectable, MAO2011-01-01T00:00:00Z2011 Dec2025-07-09T03:04:50.874Z2025-07-09T03:04:50.874ZS-EPMC32304912183298710.1038/npp.2011.157