NRG1×DISC1 mutant mice were generated and adult mice from each genotype were assessed for pain sensitivity (hot plate and tail flick tests), anxiety (light-dark box), and stress-induced hypothermia.
Expression of mutant DISC1 in astrocytes decreased neural progenitor proliferation and dendrite growth of newborn neurons, and produced elevated anxiety, attenuated social behaviors, and impaired hippocampus-dependent learning and memory.
We aimed to investigate whether DISC1 differentially modulates brain function during executive and memory processing, and morphology in regions relevant for depression and anxiety disorders (affective disorders).