Cerebellar 5HT-2A receptor mediates stress-induced onset of dystonia.

Stress is a key risk factor for dystonia, a debilitating motor disorder characterized by cocontractions of muscles leading to abnormal body posture. While the serotonin (5HT) system is known to control emotional responses to stress, its role in dystonia remains unclear. Here, we reveal that 5HT neurons in the dorsal raphe nuclei (DRN) send projections to the fastigial deep cerebellar nuclei (fDCN) and that photostimulation of 5HT-fDCN induces dystonia in wild-type mice. Moreover, we report that photoinhibition of 5HT-fDCN reduces dystonia in a1A tot/tot mice, a genetic model of stress-induced dystonia, and administration of a 5HT-2A receptor inverse agonist (MDL100907; 0.1 to 1 mg/kg) or shRNA-mediated knockdown of the ht2ar gene in fDCN can notably reduce the onset of dystonia in a1A tot/tot mice. These results support the serotonin theory of dystonia and suggest strategies for alleviating symptoms in human patients by blocking 5HT-2A receptors.

INTRODUCTION

Dystonia is a movement disorder characterized by cocontraction of agonist and antagonist muscles, which results in abnormal body postures. Although various genetic and environmental factors are associated with the etiology of dystonia (–), patients commonly experience worse and more frequent motor symptoms under stressful or anxiety-inducing conditions (–). Thus, patients are advised to remain relaxed, often by controlling their environments and limiting social activity (). Botulinum toxin therapy on target muscles and deep-brain stimulation of the basal ganglia have been used to prevent the typically unpredictable attacks of dystonia (–), but we currently lack an effective medication for this condition.

Indirect evidence has suggested that serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT)] is involved in the pathophysiology of dystonia: The dorsal raphe nuclei (DRN), where 5HT neurons reside, show increased activity in patients with dystonia (). Long-term administration of 5HT reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression can increase muscle tension and lead to dystonia as a side effect (). DRN neurons send outputs to the basal ganglia and the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) (), the activities of which increase in dystonia (). Considering these lines of indirect evidence and the well-known role of 5HT in emotional responses to stress (–), we speculated that the 5HT system can be a link between stress and dystonia.

Here, we hypothesized that 5HT inputs to the DCN may underlie a circuit-based mechanism for the stress-dependent onset of dystonia. To test this hypothesis, we used “tottering” mice harboring a point mutation in a P/Q type calcium channel gene (a1A) (–). These mutant mice develop whole-body dystonia under stressful conditions, such as when they are introduced to an unfamiliar environment (, ). Although inhibitory neurotransmission has been shown to occur at the synapses between cerebellar Purkinje cells and DCN neurons (), the mechanism that triggers motor symptoms in response to stress remains unknown. By modulating 5HT-DCN inputs using optogenetics in wild-type (a1A+/+) and a1A mice, we herein sought to validate the role of 5HT inputs in mediating the stress-induced onset of dystonia.

RESULTS

5HT inputs to the DCN are involved in the generation of dystonia-like symptoms

To examine the structure of 5HT inputs to each of the relevant nuclei, we virally transduced channelrhodopsin2 (ChR2; AAV2/1-EF1a-DIO-ChR2-mCherry) driven by ePet1-cre into the DRN (Fig. 1A) to label 5HT+ DRN neurons (fig. S3A). The three nuclei of the DCN are the fastigial nucleus (fDCN), the interposed nucleus (iDCN), and the dentate nucleus (dDCN); among them, we found that axons of 5HT+ DRN neurons are prominently abundant in the fDCN, compared to the iDCN or dDCN [F(2, 9) = 7.136, *P = 0.014, n = 4, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA); fDCN versus iDCN, t = 3.166, *P = 0.023; fDCN versus dDCN, t = 3.368, *P = 0.025; iDCN versus dDCN, t = 0.202, P = 0.845] (Fig. 1B). To confirm the connection between the DRN and the fDCN, we injected the retrograde tracer, fluorescence-conjugated cholera toxin subunit B (CTB), into the fDCN and observed CTB-positive signals in the DRN (fig. S1). Our results collectively suggest that 5HT+ DRN neurons send axonal outputs predominantly to the fDCN among the three nuclei of the DCN.

Fig. 1

5HT-fDCN circuits are involved in stress-induced dystonia.

(A) Optogenetic stimulation of 5HT+ DRN-fDCN circuits in ePet1-cre mice. A confocal image, double-labeled for ChR2 virus (mCherry, red) and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) (green). All merged cells (yellow) mean TPH-positive (5HT+). Inset magnification, ×20. (B) Axons from DRN 5HT+ neurons are found more in the fDCN than in the iDCN or dDCN. Inset magnification, ×20. The signal density was measured as mean fluorescent pixel values in the selected area using ImageJ (). The signal density (normalized to fDCN; 100%) was calculated for brain sections [anterioposterior (AP), −6.24 to −6.36 mm], including the three nuclei. AU, arbitrary units. (C) EMG traces during photostimulation from hind-limb muscles of wild-type mice. The traces represent results obtained for a 5-min (top) and 20-min (bottom) exposure to an open field. The traces at the bottom represent the dystonic state induced by photostimulations. (D) The cross-correlation of hind-limb muscles is increased in the photostimulation group (blue) but not in the unstimulated group (black). (E) The dystonia score and attack frequency are increased by photostimulations. Dots represent the worst dystonic score a mouse scored during the entire test session. (F) Optogenetic inhibition of 5HT+ DRN-fDCN circuits by 561-nm light in a1A mice. Inset magnification, ×20. (G) The eNpHR group exhibits reduced cross-correlation among hind-limb muscles. (H) The eNpHR group shows a lower dystonia score and attack frequency compared to the control. Dots represent the worst dystonic score a mouse scored during the entire test session. Data are presented as means ± SD (error bars).

To optically stimulate the ChR2-expressing 5HT+ inputs, we implanted an optic fiber with the tip located in the fDCN (5HT-fDCNChR2; fig. S3B). We found that under photostimulation (473 nm; frequency, 20 Hz; pulse width, 10 ms; intensity, 5 mW), 5HT-fDCNChR2 mice gradually developed dystonia-like postures in an open-field box (movie S1). 5HT-fDCNChR2 mice showed an increase in cocontractions between agonist [tibialis anterior (TA)] and antagonist [gastrocnemius (GS)] muscles (Fig. 1C), an increase in the cross-correlation between the two (n = 4; Fig. 1D), an increase in dystonia score () (n = 5, *P = 0.01208, U = 0, Mann-Whitney U test; Fig. 1E, left, and fig. S2B), and an increase in dystonia attacks (Fig. 1E, right) compared to control group, in which a control vector (AAV2/5-EF1a-DIO-eYFP) was transfected into the DRN of ePet1-cre mice (5HT-fDCNeYFP; n = 5, *P = 0.01208, U = 0, Mann-Whitney U test). In electromyography (EMG) analyses, we found that photostimulation of 5HT-fDCN inputs increased bursting events (fig. S4A), spike frequency measured by the number of spikes beyond the EMG threshold during 5 s (fig. S4B) (), power density (fig. S4D), and coherence (fig. S4C), indicating that there was an overall increase in muscular contractions. Power spectral density is the measure of the average power in a signal per unit of frequency as a function of frequency. When applied postmortem to mice, immunohistochemistry using a c-Fos antibody showed that photostimulation of 5HT-fDCN inputs did activate fDCN neurons (fig. S3B). These results suggest that 5HT+ inputs to the fDCN can produce dystonia symptoms and that this probably occurs via an increased excitability of DCN neurons.

Next, we asked whether the 5HT+ DRN inputs to the DCN modulate motor symptoms in tottering mice (a1A), which represent a genetic model for stress-induced dystonia (–). When exposed to the novelty-induced stress of an open-field box, a1A mice gradually developed dystonia (movie S2 and fig. S2A): They initially showed an increase in locomotion with jerky limb movements and eventually developed dystonia-like postures; this began with the hind limbs, expanded to the whole body over 10 min, and reached peak severity at around 35 min (fig. S5A) with increased cocontraction between TA and GS muscles (fig. S5B). Postmortem histological analyses revealed that a1A mice that experienced dystonia had increased c-Fos activity in the DRN and fDCN, supporting the potential role of the 5HT system and fDCN neurons in their motor abnormalities (fig. S6).

To demonstrate the role of 5HT-fDCN inputs in tottering mice, we injected viruses harboring the light-dependent chloride channel gene, eNpHR3.0 (rAAV2/9-EF1a-DIO-eNpHR3.0-eYFP), or a control vector (AAV2/5-EF1a-DIO-eYFP) driven by ePet1-cre into the DRN of a1A mice (ePet1::DIO-NpHR3.0;a1A or ePet1::DIO-YFP;a1A; Fig. 1F). We found that bilateral photoinhibition of 5HT-fDCN inputs using green light (561 nm, continuous; intensity, 2 mW) significantly reduced dystonia in 5HT-fDCNNpHR3.0;a1A mice under novelty stress. The mice showed reduced dystonia symptoms in terms of cocontraction of muscles (n = 4; Fig. 1G), dystonia scores (n = 5, *P = 0.0164, U = 0.5, Mann-Whitney U test; Fig. 1H, left), and attack frequency (Fig. 1H, right, and movie S2) compared to control a1A mice injected with a control vector (AAV2/5-EF1a-DIO-eYFP) driven by ePet1-cre into the DRN (n = 5, **P = 0.00760, t8 = 3.542, unpaired t test). EMG analyses revealed that photoinhibition of 5HT-fDCN inputs led to significant reductions in the number of spikes and the duration of bursting (fig. S5, C and D), accompanied by reductions in EMG power (fig. S5F) and coherence (fig. S5E). These results suggest that 5HT-fDCN inputs can induce dystonia symptoms in a1A mice.

5HT+ inputs increase the excitability of fDCN neurons

To more precisely address the impact of 5HT-fDCN inputs on the excitability of fDCN neurons, we performed single-unit recordings in ePet1 cre::DIO-ChR2;a1A+/+ mice using tetrodes under a head-fixed condition, as previously described (fig. S3C) (). We measured a significant change in firing rate in 81.8% of fDCN neurons (22 cells from five mice) upon 5HT-fDCN photostimulation (increased, 11; decreased, 7; no response, 4) (Fig. 2A and fig. S3C). We found that 50% of fDCN neurons showed an increased firing rate with kinetics similar to the onset of dystonia (Fig. 2, A and B). The rate was 19 Hz before photostimulation; it increased starting at 10 min of photostimulation and reached a peak average firing rate of 46 Hz after 30 min of photostimulation [F(2, 20) = 8.508, **P = 0.002, 11 cells from 5 mice, one-way repeated-measures (RM) ANOVA; OFF and 30 min, t = 4.096, **P = 0.002; 10 and 30 min, t = 2.47, *P = 0.045] (Fig. 2C). 5HT-fDCNChR2 mice showed more severe symptoms at 30 min compared to 10 min and also exhibited higher firing rates of fDCN neurons at 30 min compared to 10 min (Fig. 2C). This suggests that there may be a positive correlation between the firing rate of fDCN neurons and the severity of motor symptoms.

Fig. 2

Photostimulation of 5HT-fDCN circuit increases neuronal excitability in the fDCN.

(A) (Left) Single-unit recording of fDCN neurons (22 cells from five mice) showing increased, decreased, or unchanged firing rates under photostimulation of 5HT-fDCN inputs. Rasters show firing patterns in the absence and presence of photostimulation. (Right) The increased group represents 11 cells from five mice, and the decreased group represents 7 cells from three mice (mean firing rate with SD). (B) Heatmap for the three types of neuronal responses. The z score was calculated by the equation: (x-mean)/SD. (C) Photostimulations (30 min, orange; 10 min, yellow) are associated with increased firing events with a shortened interspike interval (ISI). The mean firing rate of longer photostimulations (30 min, orange) is significantly higher than that under no (black) or 10-min (yellow) photostimulation; motor symptoms are also more severe at 30 min than at 10 min. Dots represent the worst dystonic score a mouse scored during the entire test session. (D) Schematic and confocal images showing mice that received intracerebellar injections and photostimulations. ChR2+ neurons (red, mCherry); all neurons (blue, DAPI). Inset magnification, ×20. (E) EMG cross-correlation between TA and GS muscles in the presence (ON) or absence (OFF) of photostimulation. Cross-correlations were performed on epochs wherein mice showed a dystonia score of 3 or 4. (F) Increased dystonia scores under photostimulation. Dots represent the worst dystonic score a mouse scored during the entire test session. Data are presented as means ± SD (error bars).

To determine whether this increased firing rate contributes to dystonia onset, we directly stimulated fDCN neurons with blue light (473 nm; frequency, 20 Hz; pulse width, 10 ms; intensity, 2 mW) using a CamKIIα-driven ChR2 gene in wild-type mice (CamKIIα-fDCN-ChR2;a1A+/+; Fig. 2D and fig. S7A). We found that photostimulation promptly induced dystonia in fDCNChR2 mice (fig. S7B; see onset latency around 55 ms), as assessed by the cocontraction of agonist and antagonist muscles (fig. S7B), as well as increased cross-correlation (n = 5; Fig. 2E) and dystonia scores (Fig. 2F and fig. S2C) compared to the light OFF state (n = 5, **P = 0.00139, t4 = −7.893, paired t test). These results suggest that the 5HT-dependent excitation of fDCN neurons can induce dystonia.

Increased excitability and Ca2+ signaling in fDCN neurons of a1A mice

To physiologically verify the increased excitability of the fDCN in a1A mice, we used time-correlated single-photon counting fiber optics (, ). To express the Ca2+ sensor GCaMP6m in the fDCN, we injected AAV-CMV-CRE and AAV-DIO-GCaMP6m vectors in the fDCN and then measured emitted fluorescence activity using a fiber optic photon detector (Fig. 3A), as previously described (). We found that fDCN neurons of a1A mice showed an increase in Ca2+ activity after just 10 min of exposure to an open-field box, reaching a peak after ~30 min of exposure [F(2, 6) = 11.643, **P = 0.009, n = 4, one-way RM ANOVA; 10 and 30 min, t = 4.792, **P = 0.009; 10 and 20 min, t = 2.887, P = 0.055; 20 and 30 min, t = 1.905, P = 0.105; Fig. 3B and movie S3]. In an event-based analysis, we found that the increase of Ca2+ activity in fDCN neurons was associated with bouts of dystonia in vehicle (0.9% saline)–treated control mice (Fig. 3C), rising to 9.5 times the baseline level during dystonia episodes [F(2, 6) = 8.508, **P = 0.006, n = 4, one-way RM ANOVA; resting and dystonia, t = 4.713, *P = 0.01; walking and dystonia, t = 4.255, *P = 0.011; Fig. 3D]. These results support the hypothesis that the excitatory outputs of fDCN neurons are positively correlated with dystonia in a1A mice (Fig. 2).

Fig. 3

Optical detection of Ca2+-induced neuronal excitability in the fDCN.

(A) Schematic for recording the neural activity of fDCN neurons using GCaMP6m. Images show cre-dependent expression of GCaMP6m in the fDCN. Inset magnification, ×20 and ×40. (B) Time-dependent changes of bout duration during dystonia attacks and ΔF/F in home cage or open field. (C) Heatmap of fluorescence changes in vehicle-treated (control; injected with 0.9% saline) mice. The color indicates the change in fluorescence (ΔF/Fmean). The “bout” is a dystonic attack. The heatmap is aligned to bout onset, which refers to the point of dystonia attack. (D) fDCN neurons show increased activities during dystonia, compared with resting or walking. ΔF/F represents changes in fluorescence from the median over the entire time series (0 to 30 min in the open field, every 1 s). (E) Schematic showing that mice received pLenti-CamKIIα-OptoSTIM1-eGFP (3.6 × 1011 genomic copies/ml, 0.25 μl) in the right fDCN by intracerebellar injection. A ferrule was implanted just above the injection site. Representative image showing expression of OptoSTIM1 in the fDCN. Inset magnification, ×20. (F) EMG traces in the control and OptoSTIM1 groups. The control consisted of wild-type (a1A) mice were injected with pLenti-CamKIIα-eGFP virus. Arrowheads indicate the onset point for simultaneous cocontraction of TA and GS muscles. (G) The OptoSTIM1 group shows higher cross-correlation upon stimulation than the control group. (H) The OptoSTIM1 group shows an increased time to muscle cocontraction compared to the control group. (I) Photostimulations lasting longer than 10 min increase the dystonia score in the OptoSTIM1 group. Dots represent the worst dystonic score a mouse scored during the entire test session. Data are presented as means ± SD (error bars).

To explore the role of increased intracellular Ca2+ in the onset of dystonia, we decided to use OptoSTIM1, a designer protein that increases intracellular Ca2+ regardless of membrane potential via the light-dependent oligomerization of Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ channels (), in wild-type mice (a1A). We transfected lentiviruses harboring pLenti-CamKIIα-OptoSTIM1-eGFP into the fDCN and implanted a ferrule just above the injection site (Fig. 3E). Under light illumination in an open-field box (473 nm; frequency, 20 Hz; pulse width, 10 ms; intensity, 5 mW), we found that CamKIIα-fDCN-OptoSTIM1;a1A+/+ mice showed a greater tendency toward dystonia than CamKIIα-fDCN-eGFP;a1A+/+ mice (Fig. 3F), as measured by an increase in cocontractions (n = 5, *P = 0.01208, U = 0, Mann-Whitney U test; Fig. 3H) and cross-correlation (n = 5; Fig. 3G) between the TA and GS muscles compared to those of control mice transfected with lentiviruses harboring pLenti-CamKIIα-eGFP. We also found that the severity of their dystonia symptoms was proportional to the duration of photostimulation (n = 5; Fig. 3I). These results suggest that the increase in intracellular Ca2+, which likely occurs through activation of 5HT receptors () and voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (Fig. 2), is critical to increasing the excitability of the fDCN neurons that trigger stress-induced dystonia.

Blockage and knockdown of 5HT-2A receptors reduces stress-induced dystonia in a1A mice

To determine which 5HT receptor is involved in stress-induced dystonia, we administered intraperitoneal injections of 5HT receptor antagonists to a1A mice 30 min before moving them into an open-field box. Because DCN neurons express 5HT-1A, 5HT-2A, and 5HT-3 receptors (), we administered antagonists to each of these serotonin receptors individually. We found that the 5HT-2A receptor inverse agonist MDL100907 (, ) efficiently reduced dystonia in a1A mice (1 mg/kg; n = 5 vehicle, n = 5 MDL100907, n = 4 WAY100135, n = 4 ondansetron; n.s. indicates nonsignificant), as measured by reduced cocontraction of agonist/antagonist muscle pairs [F(3, 14) = 13.145, **P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA; vehicle versus MDL100907, t = 5.088, **P < 0.001; Fig. 4, A and B, left], a reduced dystonia score [F(3, 14) = 19.091, **P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA; vehicle versus MDL100907, t = 6.054, **P < 0.001; Fig. 4B, middle], fewer dystonia attacks [F(3, 14) = 14.968, **P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA; vehicle versus MDL100907, t = 4.971, **P < 0.001; Fig. 4B, right], and a desynchronization of the TA and GS muscles (fig. S8A). The therapeutic effect of MDL100907 was also at 0.1 mg/kg (fig. S8B). In contrast, neither WAY100135 nor ondansetron, which are antagonists for 5HT-1A and 5HT-3, respectively, affected dystonia in a1A mice [P = 0.851 and 0.853, Fig. 4B, left; P = 0.98 and 0.925, Fig. 4B, middle; P = 0.889 and 0.935, Fig. 4B, right].

Fig. 4

5HT-2A receptor inhibition reduces dystonia and neural activity in a1A mice.

(A) Representative traces obtained after administration of vehicle or the 5HT-2A receptor antagonist MDL100907. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with drugs at 30 min before testing. (B) MDL100907 reduces the duration of muscle cocontraction and dystonia compared to the saline control. Antagonists for 5HT-1A (WAY100135) or 5HT-3 receptor (ondansetron) had no effect. Dots represent the worst dystonic score a mouse scored during the entire test session. (C and D) Vehicle-treated mice show increased neural activity when moved to an open-field box (OF) from their home cage. MDL100907 significantly reduces this novelty-induced increase of neural activity. (E) Schematic showing bilateral knockdown of 5HT-2A receptor genes using shRNA. Representative Western blot of fDCN lysate of a mouse injected with AAV-5HT-2ARshRNA-GFP. Images of histological sections from a mouse injected with AAV-5HT-2ARshRNA-GFP to the fDCN. Inset magnification, ×10 and ×20. (F) Knockdown of 5HT-2A gene by AAV-5HT-2ARshRNA-GFP decreases the amount of 5HT-2A protein compared to control (AAV-scramble nucleotides-eGFP). (G and H) Dystonia score and attack frequency are reduced by knockdown of 5HT-2A receptors. Dots represent the worst dystonic score a mouse scored during the entire test session. Data are presented as means ± SD (error bars).

EMG analyses showed that MDL100907 treatment led to a significant reduction in bursting of muscular action potentials [for TA muscles, left, F(3, 14) = 6.749, **P = 0.005, one-way ANOVA; vehicle versus MDL100907, t = 4.128, **P = 0.006; for GS muscles, F(3, 14) = 7.469, **P = 0.003, one-way ANOVA; vehicle versus MDL100907, t = 4.557, **P = 0.003; fig. S9A] and rate of EMG spiking [for TA muscles, F(3, 14) = 42.732, **P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA; vehicle versus MDL100907, t = 9.5023, **P < 0.001; for GS muscles, F(3, 14) = 32.263, **P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA; vehicle versus MDL100907, t = 8.795, **P < 0.001; fig. S9B] and that this was accompanied by reductions in EMG power density (fig. S9D) and coherence (fig. S9C). To address the action mechanism of MDL100907 in this context, we performed Ca2+ imaging of fDCN neurons using GCaMP6m in a1A mice (Fig. 4, C and D). These results suggest that 5HT-2A receptors play key roles in stress-induced muscular tension and dystonia.

However, 5HT antagonists are known to exert therapeutic effects through other areas. For example, studies have shown that 5HT pathways pass from the medullary raphe nuclei to motor circuits in the spinal cord and may be activated by stress (). To test the role of 5HT-2A receptors in the fDCN, we examined the effect of 5HT-2A receptor antagonism on the excitability of fDCN neurons using Ca2+ imaging. We found that MDL100907 (1 mg/kg) efficiently prevented the increase in excitability of fDCN neurons that is normally observed upon exposure to an open-field box [for group, F(3, 24) = 22.445, **P < 0.001; for time, F(2, 24) = 5.118, **P = 0.001; for group × time, F(6, 24) = 5.118, **P = 0.002, n = 4, two-way RM ANOVA; Fig. 4, C and D]. To knock down 5HT-2A receptors in the fDCN, we injected viruses harboring anti–5HT-2A short hairpin RNA (shRNA; AAV-U6-5HT-2ARshRNA-CMV-GFP) (Fig. 4E). In postmortem histology experiments, we observed a knockdown efficiency of ~63.5% (n = 5 scramble, n = 6 shRNA, *P = 0.0324, t9 = 2.526, unpaired t test; Fig. 4F). We further found that 5HT-2A receptor knockdown in the fDCN reduces dystonia scores (n = 4, **P = 0.00106, t6 = 5.892, unpaired t test; Fig. 4G) and attack frequencies (n = 4, **P = 0.00188, t6 = 5.270, unpaired t test; Fig. 4H and movie S5). The control mice consisted of a1Atot/tot mice injected with AAV-U6-scrambledshRNA-CMV-GFP virus. Together, these results indicate that 5HT-2A receptors are critical for the pathophysiology of dystonia in a1A mice.

DISCUSSION

Patients who suffer from bouts of dystonia with unpredictable onset or whose motor symptoms grow worse under stressful conditions are typically prescribed some form of relaxation therapy (). Our results reveal a circuit-based mechanism that explains the relationship between stress and dystonia: Stress enhances the excitability of fDCN neurons via the activation of 5HT-2A receptors, leading to increased intracellular Ca2+ (fig. S10A). We further found that inhibition of the 5HT-2A receptor via drugs or shRNAs significantly reduced the onset of symptoms in a genetic model of stress-induced dystonia (Fig. 4), signaling hope for patients who suffer from dystonia.

One alternative explanation for the therapeutic effect of 5HT-2A receptor blockade on stress-induced dystonia (Fig. 4) is that such treatment instead blocks the negative emotions associated with stress. However, it is 5HT agonism, not antagonism, that has been associated with a relief from emotional stress (). Treatment with SSRIs (antidepressants that facilitate 5HT signaling) can instead increase the risk of muscular tension abnormalities like dystonia (, ). In addition, 5HT-2A receptors are highly expressed in motor-related areas such as the DCN and striatum (). Thus, the 5HT system seems to control emotion and muscular tension via different 5HT receptors expressed in different brain areas.

It is worth noting that the fDCN was not previously a primary focus as a neural substrate for dystonia. Several studies reported that, of the three DCN nuclei, the dDCN plays a critical role in dystonia (, , ). Knockdown of torsin A, a gene associated with dystonia, in the dDCN was found to induce dystonia (). The dDCN induces dystonia through a specific neural pathway wherein the excitatory outputs of dDCN neurons activate neurons in the centromedial or centrolateral thalamus (). Our present study reveals that DRN-5HT neurons send inputs to the fDCN rather than the dDCN (Fig. 1), and the excitation of these fDCN neurons facilitates the onset of dystonia under stressful conditions. fDCN neurons, like dDCN neurons, send outputs to the centromedial or centrolateral thalamus (fig. S10B); the two DCN outputs converge in the thalamus such that coexcitation of dDCN and fDCN neurons may reduce the threshold for dystonia onset. Stress, however, seems to trigger dystonia through the 5HT-fDCN neuronal pathway.

Our study also provides clues regarding the physiological role of the 5HT-cerebellar circuit mechanism. As an adaptive response to potential danger, emotion-dependent muscle tension may facilitate more powerful motor reactions (). Still, such tension has drawbacks in that it inevitably limits fine motor control and increases the risk of mistakes in sports and daily life (). It is plausible that the 5HT-fDCN circuit smoothly increases overall muscle tension under physiological conditions, while leading to severe motor abnormalities and muscular aches under pathological conditions. Further studies on the postsynaptic targets of the fDCN are needed to clarify the physiological role of the 5HT-fDCN circuits in regulating muscular tension and coordination.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Animals

All behavioral experiments were performed on 9- to 11-week-old male ePet1-cre, C57BL/6, and a1A mice from The Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME, USA). We used age- and gender-matched control mice. To make ePet1 CRE mice with the a1A genetic background, we crossed male ePet1 cre/−;a1A mice with female a1A mice. Mice had free access to food and water and were kept on a 12-hour light-dark cycle at 22°C. All behavioral assays were conducted during the light phase of the light-dark cycle at the same time of day. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee guidelines were followed with animal subjects. All of the care and handling of mice was performed according to the directives of the Animal Care and Use Committee of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST; Daejeon, Korea).

Virus injection and fiber optic ferrule implantation

Mice were anesthetized with 2,2,2-tribromoethanol (20 μl/g) by intraperitoneal injection and placed on a stereotaxic frame (David Kopf Instruments, USA). For optogenetic manipulation of DRN neurons, the DRN [anterior–posterior (AP), −4.6 mm; medial–lateral (ML), −0.65 mm; dorsal-ventral (DV), 2.8 mm, at a 16° angle lateral to midline] was injected with 7.8 × 1012 genomic copies/ml for AAV2/1-EF1a-DIO-ChR2-mCherry (University of Pennsylvania, USA), 2.3 × 1012 genomic copies/ml for AAV2/9-EF1a-DIO-eNpHR3.0-eYFP (University of Pennsylvania, USA), and 5.0 × 1012 genomic copies/ml for AAV2/5-EF1a-DIO-eYFP (University of North Carolina Vector Core, USA) at a rate of 0.075 μl/min using a 10-μl Hamilton microsyringe (701N; Sigma-Aldrich, USA). Following viral injection, the needle was held at the injection site for 10 min. A total of 0.5 μl of virus was injected. The fastigial nucleus (AP, −6.24 to −6.64 mm; ML, −0.68 mm; DV, 2.65 mm) was injected with 1.5 × 1012 genomic copies/ml for AAV2/9-CAG-FLEX-GCaMP6m (0.125 μl), 2.8 × 1012 genomic copies/ml for AAV2/9-CMV-Cre (0.125 μl), and 1.0 × 1012 genomic copies/ml for AAV2/9-CamKIIα-hChR2(H134R)-mCherry (all from the University of Pennsylvania, USA). In addition, 3.6 × 1011 genomic copies/ml of pLenti-CamKIIα-OptoSTIM1-eGFP (KAIST, Korea) were injected for a total injection of 0.25 μl of virus. Fiber optic cannulas containing optic fiber (200 μm diameter; Doric Lenses, Canada) were implanted bilaterally into mice injected with eNpHR3.0. All mice injected with ChR2 received a unilateral implant of a fiber optic cannula (200 μm diameter; Doric Lenses). An optic fiber (MFC_200/245_0.53_3.8mm_MF2.5_FLT; Doric Lenses) was implanted into the fastigial nucleus. The coordinates of the optic fiber were deliberately set so the area of illumination would cover the fastigial nucleus (AP, −6.24 to −6.64 mm; ML, −0.68 mm; DV, 2.55 mm). The fiber was secured to the skull with dental adhesive (Sun Medical, Japan). After 3 to 4 weeks, a 473-nm laser (Shanghai Laser, China) was used for photostimulation of the DRN–fastigial nucleus (30 min). Before every behavioral test that included optical stimulation, the light intensity was measured using an optical power meter (Thorlabs, Germany). Mice were used only once for photostimulation experiments. eNpHR3.0 mice were stimulated (AP, −6.24 to −6.64 mm; ML, ±1.5 mm; DV, 2.6 mm, at a 16° angle lateral to midline) continuously at 561 nm (45 min) using a diode-pumped, solid-state laser (CrystaLaser, USA). Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors expressing shRNAs targeting the 5HT-2A receptor were produced and concentrated by Vigene Biosciences (SH885137; Rockville, MD, USA). A similar process was used to obtain shRNA constructs targeting 5HT (serotonin) receptor 2A (HTR2A) transcript variant 1 and a scrambled control. The 5HT-2AR shRNA sequence was 5′-AAAGCTGCAGAATGCCACCAACT-3′. The fastigial nucleus neurons (AP, −6.24 mm; ML, −0.68 mm; DV, ±2.65 mm) were infected with AAV virus (Vigene Bioscience, USA) harboring either shRNA-5HT-2AR (AAV-U6-5HT-2ARshRNA-CMV-GFP) or control shRNA (AAV-U6-scrambledshRNA-CMV-GFP). Titers of ~2 × 1012 transduction units/ml were used, and a total of 0.25 μl of virus was injected.

Statistical analysis

No statistical analysis was performed to predetermine sample sizes; instead, we used sample sizes similar to those found in many previous studies that used similar neurochemical, electrophysiological, optogenetic, and behavioral techniques. All data analyses were performed using SigmaPlot (12.0; Systat Software, USA). For parameters that followed a normal distribution (Shapiro-Wilk test, P > 0.05), differences between two groups were analyzed with the Student’s t test. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for data that did not follow a normal distribution. Comparisons of three or more groups were performed with ANOVA. The Holm-Sidak method was used to correct for multiple comparisons. All other statistical tests were Student’s two-sided t tests. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant (Tables 1 and 2). Data are expressed as means ± SD (Tables 3 to 5).

Table 1

Results (P values) of statistical tests.

Figures	Statistical analysis	Mouse no.
Fig. 1B	F(2, 9) = 7.136, *P = 0.014, one-way ANOVA; fDCNvs. iDCN, t = 3.166, *P = 0.023; fDCN vs. dDCN, t = 3.368, *P = 0.025; iDCN vs. dDCN, t = 0.202, P = 0.845; post hoc analysiswith the Holm-Sidak method	n = 4
Fig. 1E	*P = 0.01208, U = 0, Mann-Whitney U test	n = 5
Fig. 1H	(Left) *P = 0.0164, U = 0.5, Mann-Whitney U test; (right) **P = 0.00760, t8 = 3.542,unpaired t test	n = 5
Fig. 2C, left	F(2, 20) = 8.508, **P = 0.002, one-way RM ANOVA; OFF and 30 min, t = 4.096,**P = 0.002; 10 and 30 min, t = 2.47, *P = 0.045; OFF and 10 min, t = 1.626, P = 0.12; posthoc analysis with the Holm-Sidak method	n = 11
Fig. 2C, right	F(2, 8) = 72.364, **P < 0.001, one-way RM ANOVA; OFF and 30 min, t = 11.078,**P < 0.001; 10 and 30 min, t = 9.601, **P < 0.001; OFF and 10 min, t = 1.477, P = 0.178;post hoc analysis with the Holm-Sidak method	n = 5
Fig. 2F	**P = 0.00139, t4 = −7.893, paired t test	n = 5
Fig. 3B	F(2, 6) = 11.643, **P = 0.009, n = 4, one-way RM ANOVA; 10 and 30 min, t = 4.792,**P = 0.009; 10 and 20 min, t = 2.887, P = 0.055; 20 and 30 min, t = 1.905, P = 0.105; posthoc analysis with the Holm-Sidak method	n = 4
Fig. 3D	F(2, 6) = 8.508, **P = 0.006, one-way RM ANOVA; resting and dystonia, t = 4.713,*P = 0.01; walking and dystonia, t = 4.255, *P = 0.011; resting and walking, t = 0.457,P = 0.664; post hoc analysis with the Holm-Sidak method	n = 4
Fig. 3H	*P = 0.01208, U = 0, Mann-Whitney U test	n = 5
Fig. 3I	F(2, 8) = 36, **P < 0.001, n = 4, one-way RM ANOVA; 0–10 and 10–20 min, t = 3.372,*P = 0.01; 0–10 and 20–30 min, t = 8.429, **P < 0.001; 10–20 and 20–30 min, t = 5.058,**P = 0.002; post hoc analysis with the Holm-Sidak method	n = 5
Fig. 4B, left	F(3, 14) = 13.145, **P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA; vehicle vs. MDL100907, t = 5.088,**P < 0.001; vehicle vs. WAY100135, t = 0.192, P = 0.851; vehicle vs. ondansetron,t = 0.513, P = 0.853; post hoc analysis with the Holm-Sidak method	n = 5 vehicle; n = 5 MDL100907; n = 4 WAY100135;n = 4 ondansetron
Fig. 4B, middle	F(3, 14) = 19.091, **P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA; vehicle vs. MDL100907, t = 6.054,**P < 0.001; vehicle vs. WAY100135, t = 0.357, P = 0.98; vehicle vs. ondansetron,t = 0.357, P = 0.925; post hoc analysis with the Holm-Sidak method	n = 5 vehicle; n = 5 MDL100907; n = 4 WAY100135;n = 4 ondansetron
Fig. 4B, right	F(3, 14) = 14.968, **P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA; vehicle vs. MDL100907, t = 4.971,**P < 0.001; vehicle vs. WAY100135, t = 0.142, P = 0.889; vehicle vs. ondansetron,t = 0.331, P = 0.935; post hoc analysis with the Holm-Sidak method	n = 5 vehicle; n = 5 MDL100907; n = 4 WAY100135;n = 4 ondansetron
Fig. 4D	For group, F(3, 24) = 22.445, **P < 0.001; for time, F(2, 24) = 5.118, **P = 0.001; forgroup × time, F(6, 24) = 5.118, **P = 0.002, two-way RM ANOVA; within OF vehicle, 10and 20 min, t = 4.135, **P < 0.001; 10 and 30 min, t = 6.864, **P < 0.001; 20 and 30 min,t = 2.729, *P = 0.012; within 20 min, home and OF, t = 4.873, **P < 0.001; OF and homeMDL, t = 4.957, **P < 0.001; OF and MDL, t = 5.336, **P < 0.001; within 30 min, homeand OF, t = 7.128, **P < 0.001; OF and home MDL, t = 7.314, **P < 0.001; OF and MDL,t = 7.128, **P < 0.001; post hoc analysis with the Holm-Sidak method	n = 4
Fig. 4F	*P = 0.0324, t9 = 2.526, unpaired t test	Scramble n = 5; shRNA n = 6
Fig. 4G	**P = 0.00106, t6 = 5.892, unpaired t test	Scramble n = 4; shRNA n = 4
Fig. 4H	**P = 0.00188, t6 = 5.270, unpaired t test	Scramble n = 4; shRNA n = 4
Fig. S4A, left	**P = 0.00819, t6 = −3.878, unpaired t test	n = 4
Fig. S4A, right	**P = 0.000154, t6 = −8.411, unpaired t test	n = 4
Fig. S4B, left	*P = 0.0435, t6 = −2.549, unpaired t test	n = 4
Fig. S4B, right	**P = 0.000463, t6 = −6.885, unpaired t test	n = 4
Fig. S5C, left	*P = 0.0144, t6 = 3.404, unpaired t test	n = 4
Fig. S5C, right	*P = 0.0174, t6 = 3.255, unpaired t test	n = 4
Fig. S5D, left	**P = 0.0000928, t6 = 9.204, unpaired t test	n = 4
Fig. S5D, right	**P = 0.000216, t6 = 7.911, unpaired t test	n = 4
Fig. S6C	(DRD) P = 0.0873, t9 = −1.918, unpaired t test; (DRV) *P = 0.0325, t9 = −2.525,unpaired t test	Control n = 5; a1Atot/tot n = 6
Fig. S6C	(fDCN) **P = 0.00453, t4 = −5.752, unpaired t test	n = 3
Fig. S8B, left	F(4, 14) = 14.84, **P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA; vehicle and 0.02 mg of MDL100907,t = 2.882, P = 0.07; vehicle and 0.1 mg, t = 5.174, **P = 0.001; vehicle and 1 mg,t = 6.352, **P < 0.001; vehicle and 2 mg, t = 6.156, **P < 0.001; post hoc analysis withthe Holm-Sidak method	n = 5 vehicle; n = 3 0.02 mg of MDL100907; n = 30.1 of mg MDL100907; n = 5 1 mg of MDL100907;n = 3 2 mg MDL100907
Fig. S8B, right	F(4, 14) = 13.386, **P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA; vehicle and 0.02 mg of MDL100907,t = 2.649, P = 0.109; vehicle and 0.1 mg, t = 4.741, **P = 0.003; vehicle and 1 mg,t = 5.797, **P < 0.001; vehicle and 2 mg, t = 5.797, **P < 0.001; post hoc analysis withthe Holm-Sidak method	n = 5 vehicle; n = 3 0.02 mg of MDL100907; n = 30.1 mg of MDL100907; n = 5 1 mg of MDL100907;n = 3 2 mg of MDL100907
Fig. S9A, left	F(3, 14) = 6.749, **P = 0.005, one-way ANOVA; vehicle vs. MDL100907, t = 4.128,**P = 0.006; vehicle vs. WAY100135, t = 0.47, P = 0.654; vehicle vs. ondansetront = 0.989, P = 0.712; post hoc analysis with the Holm-Sidak method	n = 5 vehicle; n = 5 MDL100907; n = 4 WAY100135;n = 4 ondansetron
Fig. S9A, right	F(3, 14) = 7.469, **P = 0.003, one-way ANOVA; vehicle vs. MDL100907, t = 4.557,**P = 0.003; vehicle vs. WAY100135, t = 1.183, P = 0.447; vehicle vs. ondansetron,t = 1.312, P = 0.508; post hoc analysis with the Holm-Sidak method	n = 5 vehicle; n = 5 MDL100907; n = 4 WAY100135;n = 4 ondansetron
Fig. S9B, left	F(3, 14) = 42.732, **P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA; vehicle vs. MDL100907, t = 9.5023,**P < 0.001; vehicle vs. WAY100135, t = 0.251, P = 0.805; vehicle vs. ondansetron,t = 0.575, P = 0.819; post hoc analysis with the Holm-Sidak method	n = 5 vehicle; n = 5 MDL100907; n = 4 WAY100135;n = 4 ondansetron
Fig. S9B, right	F(3, 14) = 32.263, **P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA; vehicle vs. MDL100907, t = 8.795,**P < 0.001; vehicle vs. WAY100135, t = 0.703, P = 0.744; vehicle vs. ondansetron,t = 1.431, P = 0.437; post hoc analysis with the Holm-Sidak method	n = 5 vehicle; n = 5 MDL100907; n = 4 WAY100135;n = 4 ondansetron

Table 2

ANOVA followed by values of Holm-Sidak, Tukey, and Dunnett’s multiple comparisons tests.

Figures	Holm-Sidak	Tukey	Dunnett’s
Fig. 1B	fDCN vs. iDCN, *P = 0.023; fDCN vs. dDCN,*P = 0.025; iDCN vs. dDCN, P = 0.845	fDCN vs. iDCN, *P = 0.028; fDCN vs. dDCN,*P = 0.021; iDCN vs. dDCN, P = 0.978	fDCN vs. iDCN, *P = 0.021; fDCN vs. dDCN,*P = 0.015
Fig. 2C, left	OFF and 30 min, **P = 0.002; 10 and 30 min,*P = 0.045; OFF and 10 min, P = 0.12	OFF and 30 min, **P = 0.002; 10 and 30 min,P = 0.057; OFF and 10 min, P = 0.258	OFF and 30 min, **P = 0.001; OFF and10 min, P = 0.205
Fig. 2C, right	OFF and 30 min, **P < 0.001; 10 and 30 min,**P < 0.001; OFF and 10 min, P = 0.178	OFF and 30 min, **P < 0.001; 10 and 30 min,**P < 0.001; OFF and 10 min, P = 0.351	OFF and 30 min, **P < 0.001; OFF and10 min, P = 0.292
Fig. 3B	10 and 30 min, **P = 0.009; 10 and 20 min,P = 0.055; 20 and 30 min, P = 0.105	10 and 30 min, **P = 0.007; 10 and 20 min,P = 0.063; 20 and 30 min, P = 0.217	10 and 30 min, **P = 0.005; 10 and20 min, *P = 0.048
Fig. 3D	Resting and dystonia, *P = 0.01; walking anddystonia, *P = 0.011; resting and walking,P = 0.664	Resting and dystonia, **P = 0.008; walking anddystonia, *P = 0.013; resting and walking,P = 0.893	Resting and dystonia, **P = 0.006;walking and dystonia, *P = 0.01
Fig. 3I	0–10 and 10–20 min, *P = 0.01; 0–10 and20–30 min, **P < 0.001; 10–20 and20–30 min, **P = 0.002	0–10 and 10–20 min, *P = 0.024; 0–10 and20–30 min, **P < 0.001; 10–20 and 20–30 min,**P = 0.003	0–10 and 10–20 min, *P = 0.018; 0–10 and20–30 min, **P < 0.001
Fig. 4B, left	Vehicle vs. MDL100907, **P < 0.001; vehiclevs. WAY100135, P = 0.851; vehicle vs.ondansetron, P = 0.853	Number of samples to be compared is different	Vehicle vs. MDL100907, **P < 0.001;vehicle vs. WAY100135, P = 0.995; vehicle vs.ondansetron, P = 0.922
Fig. 4B, middle	Vehicle vs. MDL100907, **P < 0.001; vehiclevs. WAY100135, P = 0.98; vehicle vs.ondansetron, P = 0.925	Number of samples to be compared is different	Vehicle vs. MDL100907, **P < 0.001;vehicle vs. WAY100135, P = 0.971; vehicle vs.ondansetron, P = 0.971
Fig. 4B, right	Vehicle vs. MDL100907, **P < 0.001; vehiclevs. WAY100135, P = 0.889; vehicle vs.ondansetron, P = 0.935	Number of samples to be compared is different	Vehicle vs. MDL100907, **P < 0.001;vehicle vs. WAY100135, P = 0.998; vehicle vs.ondansetron, P = 0.976
Fig. S8B, left	Vehicle and 0.02 mg, P = 0.07; vehicle and0.1 mg, **P = 0.001; vehicle and 1 mg,**P < 0.001; vehicle and 2 mg, **P < 0.001	Number of samples to be compared is different	Vehicle and 0.02 mg, *P = 0.041; vehicleand 0.1 mg, **P < 0.001; vehicle and1 mg, **P < 0.001; vehicle and 2 mg,**P < 0.001
Fig. S8B, right	Vehicle and 0.02 mg, P = 0.109; vehicle and0.1 mg, **P = 0.003; vehicle and 1 mg,**P < 0.001; vehicle and 2 mg, **P < 0.001	Number of samples to be compared is different	Vehicle and 0.02 mg, P = 0.064; vehicleand 0.1 mg, **P = 0.001; vehicle and1 mg, **P < 0.001; vehicle and 2 mg,**P < 0.001
Fig. S9A, left	Vehicle vs. MDL100907, **P = 0.006; vehiclevs. WAY100135, P = 0.654; vehicle vs.ondansetron, P = 0.712	Number of samples to be compared is different	Vehicle vs. MDL100907, **P = 0.003;vehicle vs. WAY100135, P = 0.938; vehicle vs.ondansetron, P = 0.651
Fig. S9A, right	Vehicle vs. MDL100907, **P = 0.003; vehiclevs. WAY100135, P = 0.447; vehicle vs.ondansetron, P = 0.508	Number of samples to be compared is different	Vehicle vs. MDL100907, **P < 0.001;vehicle vs. WAY100135, P = 0.989; vehicle vs.ondansetron, P = 0.895
Fig. S9B, left	Vehicle vs. MDL100907, **P < 0.001; vehiclevs. WAY100135, P = 0.805; vehicle vs.ondansetron, P = 0.819	Number of samples to be compared is different	Vehicle vs. MDL100907, **P < 0.001;vehicle vs. WAY100135, P = 0.989; vehicle vs.ondansetron, P = 0.895
Fig. S9B, right	Vehicle vs. MDL100907, **P < 0.001; vehiclevs. WAY100135, P = 0.744; vehicle vs.ondansetron, P = 0.437	Number of samples to be compared is different	Vehicle vs. MDL100907, **P < 0.001;vehicle vs. WAY100135, P = 0.834; vehicle vs.ondansetron, P = 0.389

Table 3

Resulting SD.

Figures	SD	Mouse no.
Fig. 1B	fDCN = 36.397, iDCN = 20.402, dDCN = 13.966	n = 4
Fig. 1E	(Left) control = 0, ChR2 = 1; (right) control = 0, ChR2 = 2	n = 5
Fig. 1H	(Left) control = 0.837, NpHR = 0.447; (right) control = 3.435, NpHR = 0.837	n = 5
Fig. 2C, left	OFF = 24.831, 10 min = 37.262, 30 min = 45.792	n = 11
Fig. 2C, right	OFF = 0, 10 min = 0.245, 30 min = 0.316	n = 5
Fig. 2F	OFF = 0, ON = 0.822	n = 5
Fig. 3B	10 min = 3.434, 20 min = 1.013, 30 min = 5.67	n = 4
Fig. 3D	Resting = 0.547, walking = 0.82, dystonia = 3.938	n = 4
Fig. 3H	Control = 0.986, STIM1 = 8.484	n = 5
Fig. 3I	0–10 min = 0.000, 10–20 min = 0.837, 20–30 min = 0.707	n = 5
Fig. 4B, left	Vehicle = 10.716, MDL100907 = 2.24; WAY100135 = 7.662,ondansetron = 9.73	n = 5 vehicle, n = 5 MDL100907, n = 4 WAY100135, n = 4ondansetron
Fig. 4B, middle	Vehicle = 0.548, MDL100907 = 0.837; WAY100135 = 0.5, ondansetron = 0.5	n = 5 vehicle, n = 5 MDL100907, n = 4 WAY100135, n = 4ondansetron
Fig. 4B, right	Vehicle = 1.673, MDL100907 = 1.225; WAY100135 = 2.062,ondansetron = 1.258	n = 5 vehicle, n = 5 MDL100907, n = 4 WAY100135, n = 4ondansetron
Fig. 4D	Home vehicle 10, 20, and 30 min = 3.710, 0.413, and 1.351; OF vehicle 10,20, and 30 min = 3.434, 1.013, and 5.670; home MDL100907 10, 20, and30 min = 0.641, 0.432, and 1.015; OF MDL100907 10, 20, and 30 min = 0.959,0.587, and 1.751	n = 4
Fig. 4F	Scramble = 0.524, shRNA = 0.3	Scramble n = 5, shRNA n = 6
Fig. 4G	Scramble = 0.577, shRNA = 0.5	Scramble n = 4, shRNA n = 4
Fig. 4H	Scramble = 1.5, shRNA = 1	Scramble n = 4, shRNA n = 4
Fig. S4A, left	Control = 9.619, ChR2 = 52.1	n = 4
Fig. S4A, right	Control = 8.208, ChR2 = 36.854	n = 4
Fig. S4B, left	Control = 18.465, ChR2 = 125.02	n = 4
Fig. S4B, right	Control = 8.261, ChR2 = 45.392	n = 4
Fig. S5C, left	Control = 66.465, NpHR = 9.23	n = 4
Fig. S5C, right	Control = 48.614, NpHR = 30.759	n = 4
Fig. S5D, left	Control = 25.46, NpHR = 5.865	n = 4
Fig. S5D, right	Control = 25.512, NpHR = 9.843	n = 4
Fig. S6C	(DRD) control = 6.866, a1Atot/tot = 10.629; (DRV) control = 8.607, a1Atot/tot = 8.39	Control n = 5, a1Atot/tot n = 6
Fig. S6C	(fDCN) control = 4.283, a1Atot/tot = 9.592	n = 3
Fig. S7B	TA = 88.023, GS = 87.969	n = 5
Fig. S8B, left	Vehicle = 1.673, 0.02 mg of MDL100907 = 1.155, 0.1 mg ofMDL100907 = 1.528, 1 mg of MDL100907 = 1.225, 2 mg ofMDL100907 = 1.155	n = 5 vehicle, n = 3 0.02 mg of MDL100907, n = 3 0.1 mgof MDL100907, n = 5 1 mg of MDL100907, n = 3 2 mg ofMDL100907
Fig. S8B, right	Vehicle = 0.548, 0.02 mg of MDL100907 = 0.577, 0.1 mg ofMDL100907 = 0.577, 1 mg of MDL100907 = 0.837, 2 mg ofMDL100907 = 0.577	n = 5 vehicle, n = 3 0.02 mg of MDL100907, n = 3 0.1 mgof MDL100907, n = 5 1 mg of MDL100907, n = 3 2 mg ofMDL100907
Fig. S9A, left	Vehicle = 75.405, MDL100907 = 19.074, WAY100135 = 35.154,ondansetron = 3.851	n = 5 vehicle, n = 5 MDL100907, n = 4 WAY100135, n = 4ondansetron
Fig. S9A, right	Vehicle = 97.898, MDL100907 = 8.169, WAY100135 = 19.439,ondansetron = 27.651	n = 5 vehicle, n = 5 MDL100907, n = 4 WAY100135, n = 4ondansetron
Fig. S9B, left	Vehicle = 22.46, MDL100907 = 7.762, WAY100135 = 11.429,ondansetron = 14.655	n = 5 vehicle, n = 5 MDL100907, n = 4 WAY100135, n = 4ondansetron
Fig. S9B, right	Vehicle = 22.094, MDL100907 = 6.627, WAY100135 = 6.635,ondansetron = 24.036	n = 5 vehicle, n = 5 MDL100907, n = 4 WAY100135, n = 4ondansetron

Table 5

Timelines of experiments

Figures	Timelines of experiments	Mouse
Fig. 1, A to E	Photostimulation for 30 min upon entering open-field box	ePet1 cre::DIO-ChR2;a1A+/+
Fig. 1, F to H	Photoinhibition for 45 min upon entering open-field box	ePet1 cre::DIO-NpHR;a1Atot/tot
Fig. 2, A to C	OFF, 10-min photostimulation; ON, 30 min during single unit recording	ePet1 cre::DIO-ChR2;a1A+/+
Fig. 2, D to F	Repeated three times (OFF, 30-s photostimulation; ON, 30 s) in anopen-field box	CamKIIα-fDCN-ChR2;a1A+/+
Figs. 3, A to D, and 4, C and D	Mice were intraperitoneally injected with drugs at 30 min beforetesting—mice were recorded in their home cage or in an open-fieldbox for 30 min	a1Atot/tot
Fig. 3, E to I	Photostimulation for 30 min upon entering open-field box	CamKIIα-fDCN-OptoSTIM1;a1A+/+
Fig. 4, A and B, and fig. S8	Mice were intraperitoneally injected with drugs at 30 min beforetesting—mice were recorded in an open-field box for 45 min	a1Atot/tot
Fig. 4, E to H	45-min recording in an open-field box	U6-fDCN-5HT2AR shRNA;a1Atot/tot
Figs. S3A and S7A	Photostimulation in an open-field box—home cage for 90 min after thelast photostimulation in the open-field box—perfusion	ePet1 cre::DIO-ChR2;a1A+/+CamKIIα-fDCN-ChR2;a1A+/+
Fig. S6	45 min in an open-field box—90 min in their home cage—perfusion	a1Atot/tot

Table 4

Table of reagents and resources.

Reagent or resource	Source	Identifier
Antibody
Sheep anti-TPH	Millipore	AB1541
Rabbit anti–c-Fos	Millipore	F7799
FITC-conjugated donkey anti-sheep	Santa Cruz Biotechnology	SC-2476
FITC-conjugated donkey anti-rabbit	Invitrogen	A-21206
Anti-serotonin receptor 2A/HTR2A	Millipore	MABN1595
Anti–β-actin	Santa Cruz Biotechnology	SC-47778
Mouse IgG antibodies	Thermo Fisher Scientific	G-21040
Virus strains
AAV2/1-EF1a-DIO-ChR2-mCherry	UPenn Vector core	AV-1-20297P
AAV2/9-EF1a-DIO-eNpHR3.0-eYFP	UPenn Vector core	AV-9-26966P
AAV2/5-EF1a-DIO-eYFP	UNC Vector core	AV-4310d
AAV2/9-CAG-FLEX-GCaMP6m	UPenn Vector core	V-5735 L
AAV2/9-CMV-Cre	UPenn Vector core	V4769MI-R-DL
AAV2/9-CamKIIα-hChR2(H134R)-mCherry	UPenn Vector core	26969-AAV9
pLenti-CamKIIα-OptoSTIM1-eGFP	KAIST	Dr. Won Do Heo
AAV-U6-5HT-2ARshRNA-CMV-GFP	Vigene Bioscience	SH885137
Chemicals, recombinant proteins
DiI	Sigma-Aldrich	42364; CAS: 41085–99-8
Isoflurane	Hana Pharm. Co. Ltd.	N/A
Vectashield mounting medium with DAPI	Vector Labs	H-1200
Triton X-100	Sigma-Aldrich	93443; CAS: 9002-93-1
Normal donkey serum	Sigma-Aldrich	D9663
NaCl	Sigma-Aldrich	S7653; CAS: 7647-14-5
Sucrose	Biosesang	S1030; CAS:57–50-1
NaHCO3	Sigma-Aldrich	S6297; CAS: 144–55-8
KCl	Sigma-Aldrich	P3911; CAS: 7447-40-7
MgCl2	Sigma-Aldrich	M9272; CAS: 7791-18-6
Hepes	Sigma-Aldrich	H4034; CAS:7365-45-9
Experimental model: strains
Mouse/a1Atot/tot	The Jackson Laboratory	Stock no. 000544
Mouse/ePet1-cre	The Jackson Laboratory	Stock no. 012712
Software and algorithms
Spike Extractor	Neuralynx	https://neuralynx.com/software/category/file-converters-utilities
SpikeSort 3D	Neuralynx	https://neuralynx.com/software/spikesort-3d
Neuroexplorer v.4.133	Nex Technologies	http://www.neuroexplorer.com/
MATLAB R2013a	MathWorks	https://kr.mathworks.com/products/matlab.html
pClamp	Molecular Devices	https://www.moleculardevices.com/systems/conventional-patch-clamp/pclamp-10-software
5HT antagonists
MDL100907	Sigma-Aldrich	M3324; CAS: 139290-65-6
WAY100135	Sigma-Aldrich	W1895; CAS: 149055-79-8
Ondansetron	Sigma-Aldrich	O3639; CAS: 99614-02-5
Other
473-nm laser	Shanghai Laser	BL473T8
561-nm laser	CrystaLaser	CL-561-050
Waveform generator	Agilent	33521B
Teflon-coated tungsten wire (limb-muscle EMG)	A-M systems	793200
Stainless steel wire (ground reference)	A-M systems	790700
Electrode interface board	Neuralynx	EIB-16
Polyimide-coated NiCr wire	Kanthal Precision Technology	PF002005
Gold pins	Neuralynx	EIB-pin
Nano-Z	Neuralynx	N/A
Preamplifier head-stage	Neuralynx	HS-16
Digital Lynx acquisition system	Neuralynx	Digital Lynx 4SX
Quartz-coated tetrode	Thomas Recording	AN000259 (Tip shape A)
AC amplifier	Thomas Recording	16-PGMA; Article# AN000706
Silicon optrode	NeuroNexus	A1x16-5 mm-25-177-OA16
Cryotome	Leica	CM1850
Confocal microscope	Carl Zeiss	LSM780