Genetic identification of the habenular pathway regulating the monoamines metabolism in the brain

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Habenular subnuclei in the rodents were characterized by the heterogeneity of the neurons in expression of marker genes for glutamatergic, cholinergic and substance P-ergic transmission and monoaminergic receptors. Tamoxifen injection to Dbx1CreERT2/+ knock-in mouse line before (embryonic days 12-16) and after birth (postnatal days 0-3) resulted in the ubiquitous labeling of the cells in the adult forebrain and specific labeling of the astrocytes in the adult habenula, respectively. Electrophysiological study revealed that the habenula lesion elicited the impairment of the hippocampal theta oscillation, which was dependent upon the intact serotonergic raphe in the brain stem. These results suggested that the habenula affected the diverse brain activity via modulation of neuronal activity in the monoaminergic neurons.