AUTHOR=Sahu Madhusmita P. , Pazos-Boubeta Yago , Steinzeig Anna , Kaurinkoski Katja , Palmisano Michela , Borowecki Olgierd , Piepponen Timo Petteri , Castrén Eero TITLE=Depletion of TrkB Receptors From Adult Serotonergic Neurons Increases Brain Serotonin Levels, Enhances Energy Metabolism and Impairs Learning and Memory JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience VOLUME=14 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2021.616178 DOI=10.3389/fnmol.2021.616178 ISSN=1662-5099 ABSTRACT=

Neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) regulate each other and have been implicated in several neuronal mechanisms, including neuroplasticity. We have investigated the effects of BDNF on serotonergic neurons by deleting BDNF receptor TrkB from serotonergic neurons in the adult brain. The transgenic mice show increased 5-HT and Tph2 levels with abnormal behavioral phenotype. In spite of increased food intake, the transgenic mice are significantly leaner than their wildtype littermates, which may be due to increased metabolic activity. Consistent with increased 5-HT, the proliferation of hippocampal progenitors is significantly increased, however, long-term survival of newborn cells is unchanged. Our data indicates that BDNF-TrkB signaling regulates the functional phenotype of 5-HT neurons with long-term behavioral consequences.