Sex-specific role for dopamine receptor d2 in dorsal raphe serotonergic neuron modulation of defensive acoustic startle and dominance behavior

Krissy A. Lyon, Benjamin D. Rood, Lorna Wu, Rebecca A. Senft, Lisa V. Goodrich, Susan M. Dymecki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Drd2Pet1-CKO females, but not males, exhibited blunting of the acoustic startle response, a protective, defensive reflex. Indistinguishable from controls were auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), loco-motion, cognition, and anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors. Analyzing wild-type Drd2-Pet1 neurons, we found sex-specific differences in the proportional distribution of axonal collaterals, in action potential (AP) du-ration, and in transcript levels of Gad2, important for GABA synthesis. Drd2Pet1-CKO cells displayed sex-specific differences in the percentage of cells harboring Gad2 transcripts. Our results suggest that DRD2 function in Drd2-Pet1 neurons is required for normal defensive/protective behaviors in a sex-specific manner, which may be influenced by the identified sex-specific molecular and cellular features. Related behaviors in humans too show sex differences, suggesting translational relevance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberENEURO.0202-20.2020
Pages (from-to)1-23
Number of pages23
JournaleNeuro
Volume7
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2020
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Neuroscience(all)

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