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Neuroimaging studies support variations in corticostriatal pathways in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but its molecular and genetic bases are less understood. These researchers became interested in the role played by Slitrk genes because of recently discovered associations between SLITRK1 and Tourette syndrome, which has clinical and familial overlap with OCD. Slitrk genes are expressed primarily in brain tissue, have some similar morphology to neurotrophin receptors, and modulate neuritic activity. The investigators compared newborn mice with Slitrk5 knocked out and wild-type animals on measures of self-grooming, anxiety-type behaviors, regional brain activation, dendritic complexity, and glutamate receptor den…