title: Corticosterone alters 5-HT1A receptor-mediated hyperpolarization in area CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons.
abstract: The 5-hydroxytryptamine1A (5-HT1A) receptor in the CA1 region of the hippocampus is linked through a G protein to an inwardly rectifying potassium conductance. Activation of the 5-HT1A receptor results in a membrane hyperpolarization and decreases neuronal firing rate. The hippocampus contains a high concentration of the mineralocorticoid (MR) and glucocorticoid (GR) corticosterone (CT) receptor subtypes. Some laboratories have reported that CT modulates 5-HT1A receptor binding density and mRNA levels in area CA1 of the hippocampus; however, others have reported no change. Previous electrophysiological studies have demonstrated that acute (1 to 4 hour) MR activation in slices from adrenalectomized (ADX) rats attenuates the 5-HT1A receptor-mediated hyperpolarization, while acute MR+ GR or GR activation alone did not alter the 5-HT1A response. Our results confirm that the 5-HT1A response was attenuated 2 to 8 hours following MR activation. However, we found that GR activation alone decreased the potency, but not the maximal response to 5-HT. Chronic (2-week) treatment with basal levels of CT did not alter the 5-HT1A response. Administration of high concentrations of CT in vitro to neurons from chronically treated ADX rats decreased the magnitude of the 5-HT1A receptor-mediated hyperpolarization. We conclude that the 5-HT1A receptor-effector system in CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons is modulated by CT in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: List
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Okuhara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Birnsteil
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D003345:Corticosterone