Effect of Maternal Separation on DOI-induced transcriptome

While several molecular mechanisms have been hypothesized to mediate the long lasting effects of MS, the serotonin 2a receptor is an attractive candidate, given its role in regulating anxiety-like behavior. So we set out to ask if Maternal Separation alters the 5HT2a responses. In order to assay if MS alters the transcriptional targets of the 5Ht2a receptor, we use a drug that stimulates the 5Ht2a receptor, DOI. The experiment involves injecting both control and MS animals with DOI and looking at the transcriptome induced by DOI under control and MS conditions. This would help understand how the adverse early life experience MS, alters the transcriptional response of an adult rat to stimulation at the 5HT2a receptor, which is physiologically seen in conditions of stress.尽管已有多项分子机制被假说可介导母婴分离（Maternal Separation, MS）的长期效应，鉴于血清素2A型受体（serotonin 2a receptor）在调控焦虑样行为中的关键作用，其成为极具吸引力的候选靶点。因此本研究旨在探究母婴分离是否会改变5HT2A型受体的响应特性。为检测母婴分离是否会改变5HT2A型受体的转录靶标，我们使用了一种可激活该受体的药物DOI。本实验将对对照组与母婴分离组大鼠均注射DOI，并分别检测两组大鼠体内DOI诱导的转录组变化。该研究将有助于阐明早期不良生活经历——母婴分离——如何改变成年大鼠在5HT2A型受体受到刺激时的转录响应，而该受体的激活可见于生理应激状态下。