@article{SongJiaZhangetal.2016, author = {Song, Ning-Ning and Jia, Yun-Fang and Zhang, Lei and Zhang, Qiong and Huang, Ying and Liu, Xiao-Zhen and Hu, Ling and Lan, Wei and Chen, Ling and Lesch, Klaus-Peter and Chen, Xiaoyan and Xu, Lin and Ding, Yu-Qiang}, title = {Reducing central serotonin in adulthood promotes hippocampal neurogenesis}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {6}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, number = {20338}, doi = {10.1038/srep20338}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-168004}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Chronic administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which up-regulates central serotonin (5-HT) system function, enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis. However, the relationship between central 5-HT system and adult neurogenesis has not fully been understood. Here, we report that lowering 5-HT level in adulthood is also able to enhance adult hippocampal neurogenesis. We used tamoxifen (TM)-induced Cre in Pet1-CreER\(^{T2}\) mice to either deplete central serotonergic (5-HTergic) neurons or inactivate 5-HT synthesis in adulthood and explore the role of central 5-HT in adult hippocampal neurogenesis. A dramatic increase in hippocampal neurogenesis is present in these two central 5-HT-deficient mice and it is largely prevented by administration of agonist for 5-HTR2c receptor. In addition, the survival of new-born neurons in the hippocampus is enhanced. Furthermore, the adult 5-HT-deficient mice showed reduced depression-like behaviors but enhanced contextual fear memory. These findings demonstrate that lowering central 5-HT function in adulthood can also enhance adult hippocampal neurogenesis, thus revealing a new aspect of central 5-HT in regulating adult neurogenesis.}, language = {en} }