Defect in normal developmental increase of the brain biogenic amine concentrations in the mecp2-null mouse

To clarify whether Mecp2 dysfunction may cause impairment of the monoaminergic and serotonergic systems, we measured the whole brain concentrations of biogenic amines and related substrates in three mecp2-null male mice and four control mice of each age at 0–42 postnatal days by HPLC methods. After 14 postnatal days, concentrations of biogenic amines were smaller in mecp2-null mice than those in control mice and at 42 postnatal days, norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin concentrations in mecp2-null mice were significantly smaller by 25, 24 and 16%, respectively. This result suggested that the absence of Mecp2 does not impair the neurogenesis of monoaminergic and serotonergic neurons but causes succeeding impairment of those neuronal systems from 14 postnatal days.