There is a close relationship between serotonergic (5-HT) activity and anxiety. ErbB4, a receptor tyrosine kinase, is expressed in 5-HT neurons. However, whether ErbB4 regulates 5-HT neuronal function and anxiety-related behaviors is unclear. Here, using transgenic and viral approaches, we show that mice with ErbB4 deficiency in 5-HT neurons exhibit heightened anxiety-like behavior and impaired fear extinction, possibly due to an increased excitability of 5-HT neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). Notably, the chemogenetic inhibition of 5-HT neurons in the DRN of ErbB4 mutant mice rescues anxiety-like behaviors. Altogether, our results unravel a previously unknown role of ErbB4 signaling in the regulation of DRN 5-HT neuronal function and anxiety-like behaviors, providing novel insights into the treatment of anxiety disorders.

中文翻译：

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中缝背侧血清素能神经元中的 ErbB4 敲低会诱发焦虑样行为。


5-羟色胺（5-HT）活性与焦虑之间存在密切关系。 ErbB4 是一种受体酪氨酸激酶，在 5-HT 神经元中表达。然而，ErbB4 是否调节 5-HT 神经元功能和焦虑相关行为尚不清楚。在这里，利用转基因和病毒方法，我们发现 5-HT 神经元中 ErbB4 缺陷的小鼠表现出更高的焦虑样行为和恐惧消退能力受损，这可能是由于中缝背核 (DRN) 中 5-HT 神经元的兴奋性增加所致。 。值得注意的是，ErbB4 突变小鼠 DRN 中 5-HT 神经元的化学遗传学抑制可以挽救焦虑样行为。总而言之，我们的结果揭示了 ErbB4 信号在 DRN 5-HT 神经元功能和焦虑样行为调节中的先前未知的作用，为焦虑症的治疗提供了新的见解。