“Cortical 5-HT2A Receptor Signaling Modulates Anxiety-Like Behaviors in Mice”

WEISSTAUB NV; ZHOU M,; LIRA A; LAMBE E; GONZÁLEZ-MAESO J; HORNUNG JP; SIBILLE E,; UNDERWOOD M; ITOHARA S; DAUER WT; ANSORGE MS; MORELLI E; MANN JJ; TOTH M; AGHAJANIAN G; SEALFON SC; HEN R; JAY A. GINGRICH.

SCIENCE

Año: 2006 p. 536 - 540

0036-8075

Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] neurotransmission in the central nervous system modulatesdepression and anxiety-related behaviors in humans and rodents, but the responsible downstreamreceptors remain poorly understood. We demonstrate that global disruption of 5-HT2A receptor (5HT2AR)signaling in mice reduces inhibition in conflict anxiety paradigms without affecting fear-conditioned anddepression-related behaviors. Selective restoration of 5HT2AR signaling to the cortex normalized conflictanxiety behaviors. These findings indicate a specific role for cortical 5HT2AR function in the modulation ofconflict anxiety, consistent with models of cortical, ‘‘top-down’’ influences on risk assessment.