Serotonin depletion by p-chlorophenylalanine decreases VIP mRNA in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.
The influence of serotonergic inputs on the levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) mRNA in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) was examined by in situ hybridization combined with morphometrical analysis. Depletion of serotonin by p-chlorophenylalanine methyl ester (300 mg/kg i.p. daily for 3 days) caused a marked decrease in VIP mRNA signal levels in the ventrolateral part of the SCN. This finding suggests that serotonergic input controls VIP production at the mRNA level.
Department of Psychiatry, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
F
F
Kawakami
H
H
Okamura
T
T
Inatomi
Y
Y
Tamada
T
T
Nakajima
Y
Y
Ibata
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012701:Serotonin; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D010134:Fenclonine