Tetratricopeptide repeat domain 9A modulates anxiety-like behavior in female mice

Sci Rep. 2016 Nov 21:6:37568. doi: 10.1038/srep37568.

Abstract

Tetratricopeptide repeat domain 9A (TTC9A) expression is abundantly expressed in the brain. Previous studies in TTC9A knockout (TTC9A-/-) mice have indicated that TTC9A negatively regulates the action of estrogen. In this study we investigated the role of TTC9A on anxiety-like behavior through its functional interaction with estrogen using the TTC9A-/- mice model. A battery of tests on anxiety-related behaviors was conducted. Our results demonstrated that TTC9A-/- mice exhibited an increase in anxiety-like behaviors compared to the wild type TTC9A+/+ mice. This difference was abolished after ovariectomy, and administration of 17-β-estradiol benzoate (EB) restored this escalated anxiety-like behavior in TTC9A-/- mice. Since serotonin is well-known to be the key neuromodulator involved in anxiety behaviors, the mRNA levels of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) 1, TPH2 (both are involved in serotonin synthesis), and serotonin transporter (5-HTT) were measured in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). Interestingly, the heightened anxiety in TTC9A-/- mice under EB influence is consistent with a greater induction of TPH 2, and 5-HTT by EB in DRN that play key roles in emotion regulation. In conclusion, our data indicate that TTC9A modulates the anxiety-related behaviors through modulation of estrogen action on the serotonergic system in the DRN.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anxiety / metabolism*
  • Anxiety / physiopathology
  • Behavior, Animal*
  • Dorsal Raphe Nucleus / metabolism
  • Embryo, Mammalian / drug effects
  • Embryo, Mammalian / metabolism
  • Estrogens / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
  • Memory / drug effects
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microfilament Proteins / deficiency
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phenotype
  • Philosophy
  • Prefrontal Cortex / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Serotonin / genetics
  • Serotonin / metabolism
  • Tryptophan Hydroxylase / metabolism

Substances

  • Estrogens
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • tetratricopeptide repeat protein 9A, mouse
  • Serotonin
  • Tryptophan Hydroxylase