Carroll et al (2005)

Uses: genetics, gene knock out, ethics, animal study

Aim: to investigate 5-HTT gene's effect on the develop of depression and anxiety

Method: gene knockout study

Procedure:

Gene knockout mice were used. The mice lack the 5-HTT genes.

A control group of mice are also used.

Mice are exposed to stressful situations such as postnatal stress, novel open field test, elevated plus-maze, light/dark exploration test and forced swim test.

Result:

5HTT KO mice displayed a profile of suppressed exploratory behaviour and increased anxiety-like behaviour in the light and dark, elevelated plus-maze and the open field tests. As well as increased depression-related behaviour in the forced swim test following the repeated exposure to the test. Postnatal exposure did not affect emotion-related behaviour.

Carroll, J. C., Boyce-Rustay, J. M., Millstein, R., Yang, R., Wiedholz, L. M., Murphy, D. L., & Holmes, A. (2007). Effects of mild early life stress on abnormal emotion-related behaviors in 5-HTT knockout mice. Behavior genetics, 37(1), 214–222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-006-9129-9