Absence of TI-VAMP/Vamp7 leads to increased anxiety in mice

J Neurosci. 2012 Feb 8;32(6):1962-8. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4436-11.2012.

Abstract

Vesicular (v)- and target (t)-SNARE proteins assemble in SNARE complex to mediate membrane fusion. Tetanus neurotoxin-insensitive vesicular-associated membrane protein (TI-VAMP/VAMP7), a vesicular SNARE expressed in several cell types including neurons, was previously shown to play a major role in exocytosis involved in neurite growth in cultured neurons. Here we generated a complete constitutive knock-out by deleting the exon 3 of Vamp7. Loss of TI-VAMP expression did not lead to any striking developmental or neurological defect. Knock-out mice displayed decreased brain weight and increased third ventricle volume. Axon growth appeared normal in cultured knock-out neurons. Behavioral characterization unraveled that TI-VAMP knock-out was associated with increased anxiety. Our results thus suggest compensatory mechanisms allowing the TI-VAMP knock-out mice to fulfill major developmental processes. The phenotypic traits unraveled here further indicate an unexpected role of TI-VAMP-mediated vesicular traffic in anxiety and suggest a role for TI-VAMP in higher brain functions.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anxiety / etiology
  • Anxiety / genetics*
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • COS Cells
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Male
  • Metalloendopeptidases* / administration & dosage
  • Mice
  • Mice, 129 Strain
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • R-SNARE Proteins / deficiency*
  • R-SNARE Proteins / genetics*
  • Rabbits
  • Tetanus Toxin* / administration & dosage

Substances

  • R-SNARE Proteins
  • Sybl1 protein, mouse
  • Tetanus Toxin
  • tetanospasmin
  • Metalloendopeptidases