Serotonergic transcriptional programming determines maternal behavior and offspring survival.
Central serotonergic signaling influences many physiological processes, but a requirement for reproductive success has not been demonstrated. Using mouse dams with a specific disruption in serotonin neuron development, we found that serotonergic function is required for the nurturing and survival of offspring. Full rescue of survival depended on the mother's expression level of the upstream serotonergic transcriptional cascade. Thus, intrinsic transcriptional programming of maternal serotonergic activity determines the quality of nurturing and whether or not the organism survives.
Lerch-Haner
Jessica K
JK
Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, 2109 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
Frierson
Dargan
D
Crawford
LaTasha K
LK
Beck
Sheryl G
SG
Deneris
Evan S
ES
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*
C484684:Fev protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012701:Serotonin