Lithium modulates tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene expression and serotonin release in primary cultures of serotonergic raphe neurons.

Lithium salts are mood-stabilizing agents with acute antimanic properties and proven efficacy in the long-term prevention of manic and depressive episodes. Furthermore, lithium augmentation is a well-established strategy to treat depressed patients, which do not respond to antidepressants alone. There is evidence to suggest that these effects of lithium are due to a synergism with central serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission.

Higher BDNF concentrations in the hippocampus and cortex of an aggressive mouse strain.

Although genetically closely related AB-Halle (ABH) and AB-Gatersleben (ABG) mice inbred strains differ in activity and aggressive behaviour. These behavioural traits have been observed especially in response to social challenges, where ABH mice develop a highly aggressive and active behaviour, which cannot be observed in their ABG counterparts. In contrast to ABG mice, basal brain serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline concentrations in ABH mice are low but highly stimulated by social challenges.

Characterization of a functional promoter polymorphism of the human tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene in serotonergic raphe neurons.

Background: Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) is the rate-limiting enzyme in brain serotonin (5-HT) biosynthesis. Although dysfunction of 5-HT neurotransmission has been implicated in a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions, the human TPH2 promoter has not been characterized in vitro.

Methods: The functional relevance of TPH2 promoter polymorphisms was determined with luciferase assays in primary serotonergic neurons from rat raphe nuclei and in human small cell lung carcinoma cells (SHP-77 cells).

Regulation of the major isoform of human endothelin-converting enzyme-1 by a strong housekeeping promoter modulated by polymorphic microsatellites.

Background: Human endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE)-1, the key enzyme in endothelin biosynthesis, shows broad cell and tissue expression within the cardiovascular system. Expression of ECE-1c, which represents the major ECE-1 isoform, is directed by an alternative promoter, but the mechanisms of ECE-1c promoter regulation are largely unknown. As ECE-1c transcription is initiated from several start sites, we hypothesized that the ECE-1c promoter functions as a housekeeping promoter.