Project Summary

Athina Samara, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2007) of the Foundation of Biomedical Research of the Academy of Athens, Greece, is interested in the relationship between cholesterol and mood. Recent studies show that cholesterol has an important role in the formation and function of synapses. It is believed that brain cells with low levels of cholesterol have fewer serotonin receptors, preventing them from properly using this mood-stabilizing brain chemical. The proposed research aims to analyze the role of cholesterol in vivo, using a murine model in which the gene coding for an enzyme critical in cholesterol synthesis can be switched off, as well as in vitro, using cells extracted from these mice. The model mice can later be crossed with other murine lines to study the lack of cholesterol in a time- or tissue-specific manner. This model will indicate the role of DHCR24 and cholesterol in development, neurodegeneration, stress, mood disturbances, and cholesterol biosynthesis disorders.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Mood Disorders (General)

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