The results of the present study suggest that TPH2 gene expression in the midbrain part of the DRN is implicated in depression and stress response, as well as in the antidepressant fluoxetine action.
Serotonin (5-HT) in the regulation of depression-related emotionality: insight from 5-HT transporter and tryptophan hydroxylase-2 knockout mouse models.
While genetic association and mRNA expression studies implicate the tryptophan hydroxylase isoform-1 gene (TPH1) in depression and suicidality, the TPH1 gene is 150-fold less expressed in mouse brain than TPH2.
We hypothesize that functional polymorphisms (TPH2: rs7305115, 5-HTTLPR and rs25531) within both genes contribute to the risk of depressive disorders after childhood abuse in adult life.
Previous studies found that mutations on the TPH2 locus in humans were associated with depression and studies of mice and studies of rhesus macaques have shown that the TPH2 locus was involved with aggressive behavior.
We studied mice with an analogous mutation (TPH2-R439H), which results in a 60%-80% decrease in levels of 5-HT in the central nervous system and behaviors associated with depression in humans.