Short communicationEnhanced long-term fear memory and increased anxiety and depression-like behavior after exposure to an aversive event in mice lacking TIP39 signaling

Exaggerated recall for fear-provoking events leads to abnormal behaviors. We hypothesized that tuberoinfundibular-peptide-of-39-residues (TIP39) modulates fear memory by limiting long-term consequences of aversive experiences. We now show that mice lacking TIP39 signaling display enhanced fear-recall, anxiety and depression-like behavior 2 weeks after a traumatic event. We suggest that TIP39 modulates long-term fear recall and that mice lacking TIP39 or its receptor are tools for investigating fear-related psychopathologies.

► The neuropeptide TIP39 is hypothesized to modulate fear memory. ► We show that mice lacking TIP39 signaling display enhanced fear-recall. ► This is associated with long-term anxiety and depression-like behavior. ► Mice lacking TIP39 signaling can be a tool to study fear-related psychopathologies.