Transthyretin is involved in depression-like behaviour and exploratory activity.
Transthyretin (TTR), the major transporter of thyroid hormones and vitamin A in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), binds the Alzheimer beta-peptide and thus might confer protection against neurodegeneration. In addition, altered TTR levels have been described in the CSF of patients with psychiatric disorders, yet its function in the CNS is far from understood. To determine the role of TTR in behaviour we evaluated the performance of TTR-null mice in standardized tasks described to assess depression, exploratory activity and anxiety. We show that the absence of TTR is associated with increased exploratory activity and reduced signs of depressive-like behaviour. In order to investigate the mechanism underlying these alterations, we measured the levels of catecholamines. We found that the levels of noradrenaline were significantly increased in the limbic forebrain of TTR-null mice. This report represents the first clear indication that TTR plays a role in behaviour, probably by modulation of the noradrenergic system.
Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, Porto, Portugal.
João Carlos
JC
Sousa
Catarina
C
Grandela
Javier
J
Fernández-Ruiz
Rosário
R
de Miguel
Liliana
L
de Sousa
Ana Isabel
AI
Magalhães
Maria João
MJ
Saraiva
Nuno
N
Sousa
Joana Almeida
JA
Palha
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D003863:Depression / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D008032:Limbic System / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000378:metabolism; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology
D011228:Prealbumin; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine