Reduced anxiety-- and depression-like behaviors in Emx1 homozygous mutant mice

Brain Research
Bo-Jin Cao, Yuqing Li

Abstract

Emx1 is a mammalian homolog of the Drosophila gap gene empty spiracles (ems). Although it has been implicated in the formation of the mouse forebrain, the neuronal functions of this homeobox gene remain unknown. The restricted expression of Emx1 to the cerebral cortex and hippocampus suggests that it might play a role in emotional and other behavioral processes. The present study examined the phenotypes of Emx1-deficient mice generated by gene targeting technology in a battery of behavioral tests with a fixed inter-trial interval of 7 days. Compared with their wild-type littermates, the Emx1 homozygous mutant mice displayed markedly lowered anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze and dark/light exploration tests. Moreover, they exhibited less depressive-like response as indicated by the reduced duration of immobility in the forced swimming paradigm. There was a trend toward reduction in prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle in the homozygotes. No significant alterations in locomotor activity and susceptibility to pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure were found. This behavioral profile indicates an involvement of Emx1 in the emotional responses of mice.

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Citations

Dec 4, 2003·Brain Research. Developmental Brain Research·D Eugene RedmondRoderick V Jensen
Feb 19, 2004·European Psychiatry : the Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists·P Gorwood
Jul 16, 2010·Journal of Biochemistry·Fumiaki YokoiYuqing Li
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Dec 3, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Clare C RittschofLisa Stubbs
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Nov 2, 2016·Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience·Firas H KobeissyJialing Liu
Jun 29, 2004·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·Victor E CamposYuqing Li

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