| First Author | Richard S | Year | 2017 |
| Journal | Behav Brain Res | Volume | 321 |
| Pages | 18-27 | PubMed ID | 28011173 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:249041 | Mgi Id | MGI:5920317 |
| Doi | 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.12.025 | Citation | Richard S, et al. (2017) Neuronal expression of a thyroid hormone receptor alpha mutation alters mouse behaviour. Behav Brain Res 321:18-27 |
| abstractText | In humans, alterations in thyroid hormone signalling are associated with mood and anxiety disorders, but the neural mechanisms underlying such association are poorly understood. The present study investigates the involvement of neuronal thyroid hormone receptor alpha (TRalpha) in anxiety, using mouse genetics and Cre/loxP technology to specifically alter TRalpha signalling in neurons. We evaluated the behaviour of mice expressing a dominant negative, neuron-specific mutation of TRalpha (TRalphaAMI/Cre3 mice), using the elevated-plus maze, light-dark box and open-field tests. In a first experiment, mice were housed individually, and the behaviour of TRalphaAMI/Cre3 mice differed significantly from that of control littermates in these 3 tests, suggesting heightened anxiety. In a second experiment, designed to evaluate the robustness of the results with the same 3 tests, mice were housed in groups. In these conditions, the behaviour of TRalphaAMI/Cre3 mice differed from that of control littermates only in the light-dark box. Thus, TRalphaAMI/Cre3 mice appear to be more likely to develop anxiety under stressful housing conditions than control mice. These results suggest that in adult mice, thyroid hormone signalling in neurons, via TRalpha, is involved in the control of anxiety behaviour. |
