Association between Repressor Element 1 Silencing Transcription factor (REST) and Serotonin during Social Stress in the Nile Tilapia

Social stress is characterized by a decrease in the brain serotonin (5-HT) system. Whether the decrease in 5-HT is due to 5-HT cell death remains unknown. Repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) is a neuroprotective factor, which inhibits cell death-related gene expression in the brain. We thus aimed to elucidate the expression of REST in 5-HT neurons during social defeat stress in the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Results showed Rest and apoptotic gene expression were not changed in 5-HT neurons during social defeat stress, suggesting the decrease in 5-HT in social stress might not be due to 5-HT cell loss.