title: Serotonergic regulation of somatosensory cortical development: lessons from genetic mouse models.
abstract: Monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems appear early during embryogenesis, suggesting that they could play important roles in brain development. Accumulated evidence indicates that serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) regulates neural as well as nonneural development, including early aspects of embryonic development, differentiation of neuronal progenitors, and morphogenesis of the craniofacial region, heart and limb. Recent studies using monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A), 5-HT transporter, vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT2) and 5-HT1B receptor single, double and triple knockout mice have provided evidence that the serotonergic system plays important roles in barrel field formation in the developing somatosensory cortex. Here we review evidence from these genetic mouse models and, based on the accumulated evidence, propose a testable model for future studies of mechanisms underlying serotonergic regulation of cortical development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7090, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Antonio M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Persico
authors.forename: Jean M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lauder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D012701:Serotonin; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase