William Christopher Wetsel

Journal article Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · November 8, 2011 Featured Publication Elucidating the key signal transduction pathways essential for both antipsychotic efficacy and side-effect profiles is essential for developing safer and more effective therapies. Recent work has highlighted noncanonical modes of dopamine D(2) receptor (D( ... Full text Link to item Cite

Synaptic dysfunction and abnormal behaviors in mice lacking major isoforms of Shank3.

Journal article Hum Mol Genet · August 1, 2011 Featured Publication SHANK3 is a synaptic scaffolding protein enriched in the postsynaptic density (PSD) of excitatory synapses. Small microdeletions and point mutations in SHANK3 have been identified in a small subgroup of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and i ... Full text Link to item Cite

MeCP2 in the nucleus accumbens contributes to neural and behavioral responses to psychostimulants.

Journal article Nat Neurosci · September 2010 Featured Publication MeCP2 is a methyl DNA-binding transcriptional regulator that contributes to the development and function of CNS synapses; however, the requirement for MeCP2 in stimulus-regulated behavioral plasticity is not fully understood. Here we show that acute viral ... Full text Link to item Cite

Vmat2 heterozygous mutant mice display a depressive-like phenotype.

Journal article J Neurosci · September 26, 2007 Featured Publication The vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) is localized primarily within the CNS and is responsible for transporting monoamines from the cytoplasm into secretory vesicles. Because reserpine (a VMAT inhibitor) can precipitate depressive-like symptoms in ... Full text Link to item Cite

Cortico-striatal synaptic defects and OCD-like behaviours in Sapap3-mutant mice.

Journal article Nature · August 23, 2007 Featured Publication Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety-spectrum disorder characterized by persistent intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive actions (compulsions). Dysfunction of cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuitry is implicated in OCD, although t ... Full text Link to item Cite

Dopamine-independent locomotor actions of amphetamines in a novel acute mouse model of Parkinson disease.

Journal article PLoS Biol · August 2005 Featured Publication Brain dopamine is critically involved in movement control, and its deficiency is the primary cause of motor symptoms in Parkinson disease. Here we report development of an animal model of acute severe dopamine deficiency by using mice lacking the dopamine ... Full text Link to item Cite

Deficits in reproduction and pro-gonadotropin-releasing hormone processing in male Cpefat mice.

Journal article Endocrinology · April 2004 Featured Publication Cpe(fat/fat) mice are obese, diabetic, and infertile. These animals have a point mutation in carboxypeptidase E (CPE), an exopeptidase that removes C-terminal basic amino acids from peptide intermediates. The mutation renders the enzyme unstable, and it is ... Full text Link to item Cite

Role of serotonin in the paradoxical calming effect of psychostimulants on hyperactivity.

Journal article Science · January 15, 1999 Featured Publication The mechanism by which psychostimulants act as calming agents in humans with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or hyperkinetic disorder is currently unknown. Mice lacking the gene encoding the plasma membrane dopamine transporter (DAT) have e ... Full text Link to item Cite