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Aralar, an isoform of the calcium-binding aspartate-glutamate mitochondrial carrier, is distributed specifically in the brainand skeletal muscles. The aim of the present study was to investigate behaviors induced by the decreased expression ofaralar in the brain and to assess whether expression of brain tryptophan hydroxylase, a key enzyme in serotonin synthesis,is correlative with behavioral changes in aralar-deficient mice. In the elevated plus-maze test, heterozygous mice (Aralar^{＋/－})spent more time in the open arms and showed a significant increase in the number of entries to the open arms comparedto wild-type littermates (Aralar^{＋/＋}). In addition, Aralar^{＋/－} mice spent more time in the light compartment in a light-darkexploration test compared to Aralar^{＋/＋} mice. Western blot analysis showed a decreased expression of brain tryptophanhydroxylase in Aralar^{＋/－} mice compared to Aralar^{＋/＋} mice. These results suggested that Aralar^{＋/－} mice exhibit a lowerlevel of anxiety-like behaviors compared to Aralar^{＋/＋} littermates. This might be correlative with the reduced serotoninsynthesis.