Plasma corticosterone response to serotonin altering drugs in the 3-day-old rat.
Three-day-old rats were injected with various neurotransmitter altering agents to demonstrate a functional relationship between these drugs and plasma corticoid levels. Plasma corticosterone levels were increased after injection of methiothepin, methysergide, and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), but were not changed by cholinergic, adrenergic, and dopaminergic compounds. Imipramine alone had no effects on plasma corticoids but in combination with 5-HTP resulted in a more sustained response than 5-HTP alone. Afunctional relationship between plasma corticosterone and serotonin receptors has been demonstrated in the 3-day-old rat. The presence of this relationship just after birth suggests the possibility that serotonin may be a mediator of early experience effects on later adrenocortical function.
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D003533:Cyproheptadine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007099:Imipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D003533:Cyproheptadine; D012701:Serotonin; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D007099:Imipramine; D003345:Corticosterone