Effect of the genotype on the serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid content in different sections of the mouse brain

The levels of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid contents were estimated in hypothalamus, hyppocampus and midbrain of inbred mice of 12 strains. The levels of serotonin and its metabolite in various parts of brain representing different links of its serotoninergic system were shown to be genetically determined. The correlation analysis revealed that there were two, relatively autonomous genetic systems controlling biosynthesis and catabolism of serotonin in brain.