title: Circadian corticosterone rhythm did not develop in rats seven weeks after destruction with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine of the serotoninergic nerve terminals in the suprachiasmatic nucleus at the age of 16 days.
abstract: In order to study the role of the serotoninergic innervation of the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the development of the circadian rhythm of corticosterone 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) selectively destroying the serotoninergic structures was injected into the cell group of 16-day-old male rats prior to the appearance of the corticosterone rhythm. Rats treated with 5,7-DHT did not show circadian fluctuations in plasma corticosterone concentrations 3, 5 and 7 weeks after the injection of the neurotoxin. Their hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal system responded to ether stress. Immunocytochemistry revealed that only a very few serotonin immunoreactive elements were visible in the SCN of the 5,7-DHT-treated rats. The results indicate that serotoninergic innervation of the SCN is essential for the development of the corticosterone rhythm.
mesh_terms: D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015116:5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine; D012701:Serotonin; D003345:Corticosterone