Regional brain expression of serotonin transporter mRNA and its regulation by reuptake inhibiting antidepressants.
Regional expression and antidepressant drug-induced regulation of mRNA encoding the serotonin (5-HT) transporter were studied in rat brain. While 5-HT transporter mRNA is abundantly expressed in the midbrain raphe complex, lower concentrations were also found in frontal cortex, hippocampus, and neostriatum using a combination of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Southern hybridization, and sequence analysis. Long-term administration of antidepressants which inhibit 5-HT reuptake, but not monoamine oxidase inhibitors or 5-HT receptor agonists, decrease 5-HT transporter mRNA steady-state concentrations. Based on these observations, we conclude that (1) mRNA coding for the 5-HT transporter is present in several brain areas associated with ascending HT pathways, and (2) chronic treatment with reuptake inhibiting antidepressants may be associated with regulation of the 5-HT transporter at the level of gene expression which may contribute to the neuroadaptive mechanisms that likely underlie their therapeutic efficacy.
Lesch
K P
KP
Section on Neuropharmacology, NIMH, NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Aulakh
C S
CS
Wolozin
B L
BL
Tolliver
T J
TJ
Hill
J L
JL
Murphy
D L
DL
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003010:Clorgyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007099:Imipramine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D014179:Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C493232:Slc6a4 protein, rat; D005473:Fluoxetine; D012701:Serotonin; D003010:Clorgyline; D007099:Imipramine; C015068:1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine