title: Serotonergic reduction of dorsal central gray area stimulation-produced aversion.
abstract: Stimulating electrodes were implanted into the dorsal central gray area (DCG) of rats. The animals were trained to bar press to decrement the aversive DCG stimulation current. Rats treated with 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), 75 mg/kg or 150 mg/kg, showed a dose-dependent reduction in decremental bar pressing. In a second study, animals received either chlorimipramine, 15 mg/kg, protriptyline, 15 mg/kg, or 5-HTP, 150 mg/kg. Chlorimipramine, a strong blocker of serotonin reuptake, and 5-HTP produced significant reductions in decremental bar pressing. Protriptyline, a weak serotonin reuptake blocker, produced no significant effect. These results suggest that serotonin reduces aversive neural mechanisms associated with the dorsal central gray area.
mesh_terms: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D008297:Male; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011530:Protriptyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin; D011530:Protriptyline; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D002997:Clomipramine