Lack of the serotonin transporter in mice reduces locomotor activity and leads to gender-dependent late onset obesity

Lack of the serotonin transporter in mice reduces locomotor activity and leads to gender-dependent late onset obesity. International Journal of Obesity. Retrieved from psychology journals.

Serotonin is one of the molecular mediators regulating hunger.  There are other mediators such as leptin.  In this experiment, a group of mice was examined to see the interrelationships between serotonin, brain derived neurotropic factor (BNDF), and leptin receptors.  The mice remained at constant conditions with a twelve hour night day cycle and average room temperature of 22-24 C.  Exercise was monitored outside by a treadmill outside of the home cage.  The researchers also monitored the food intake and the rats’ weight before and after using the treadmill.  Before any blood analysis, two groups were created: normally fed mice and fasted mice.  Blood samples were analyzed for: leptin, insulin, adiponetcin, and glucose.  Mice were ethically euthanized and their brains were examined.  The liver was collected also for a record of fat storage.  Samples were frozen immediately after being prepared.  RNA was extracted.  Results showed that body weight was not different between younger (less than five months) male and female rats with serotonin deficiency and normal weight rats.  Those male mice with the deficiency who were over five months had significantly higher weight than normal weight mice.  The younger mice with deficiency were less active than the normal weight mice.