title: Emotional disorders in adult mice heterozygous for the transcription factor Phox2b.
abstract: Phox2b is an essential transcription factor for the development of the autonomic nervous system. Mice carrying one invalidated Phox2b allele (Phox2b(+/-)) show mild autonomic disorders including sleep apneas, and impairments in chemosensitivity and thermoregulation that recover within 10days of postnatal age. Because Phox2b is not expressed above the pons nor in the cerebellum, this mutation is not expected to affect brain development and cognitive functioning directly. However, the transient physiological disorders in Phox2b(+/-) mice might impair neurodevelopment. To examine this possibility, we conducted a behavioral test battery of emotional, motor, and cognitive functioning in adult Phox2b(+/-) mice and their wildtype littermates (Phox2b(+/+)). Adult Phox2b(+/-) mice showed altered exploratory behavior in the open field and in the elevated plus maze, both indicative of anxiety. Phox2b(+/-) mice did not show cognitive or motor impairments. These results suggest that also mild autonomic control deficits may disturb long-term emotional development.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biological Psychology, University of Leuven, Belgium; INSERM, U1141, Hôpital Robert Debré, 75019 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Bieke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bollen
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U1141, Hôpital Robert Debré, 75019 Paris, France; Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75019 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Nelina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramanantsoa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biological Psychology, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naert
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U1141, Hôpital Robert Debré, 75019 Paris, France; Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75019 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Matrot
authors.affiliation: Research Group on Health Psychology, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Van den Bergh
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biological Psychology, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Rudi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Hooge
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U1141, Hôpital Robert Debré, 75019 Paris, France; Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75019 Paris, France. Electronic address: jorge.gallego@inserm.fr.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gallego
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000235:genetics*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006579:Heterozygote; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C109220:NBPhox protein; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Anxiety; Autonomic nervous system disorders; Postnatal development