Reduction of depressive-like behavior in mice lacking angiotensinogen

We made use of targeted disruption of the mouse angiotensinogen (ATN) gene to examine the functional role of the ATN in the central nervous system. Bo th male and female ATN-deficient mice displayed the reduction of depressive -like behavior in the behavioral despair swim tests and spontaneous locomot or activity diminished. However, both male and female ATN-deficient mice sh owed no anxiogenic-like or memory-deficit behavior and there was no change in the pain threshold. We propose that endogenous ATN in the central nervou s system may regulate the depressant state in the brain. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.