Enhanced 5-HT1A receptor expression in forebrain regions of aggressive house mice.
The brain 5-HT1A receptor system in male wild house mice selected for high and low offensive aggression was investigated by autoradiographic analysis of in situ hybridization and radioligand binding. In high-aggressive mice, characterized by a short attack latency, the rise in plasma corticosterone concentration during the early dark phase was reduced. At that time the level of 5-HT1A mRNA in the dorsal hippocampus (dentate gyrus and CA1) was twice the amount measured in low-aggressive mice that had long attack latency and high plasma corticosterone level. Increased postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptor radioligand binding was found in dentate gyrus, CA1, lateral septum, and frontal cortex. No difference in ligand binding was found for the 5-HT1A autoreceptor on cell bodies in the dorsal raphe nucleus. In conclusion, genetic selection for high offensive aggression co-selects for reduced (circadian peak) level in plasma corticosterone and increased postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptor number in limbic and cortical regions.
Korte
S M
SM
Division of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Sylvius Laboratories, University of Leiden, The Netherlands.
Meijer
O C
OC
de Kloet
E R
ER
Buwalda
B
B
Keijser
J
J
Sluyter
F
F
van Oortmerssen
G
G
Bohus
B
B
D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000378:metabolism; D000374:Aggression; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001345:Autoradiography; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009928:Organ Specificity; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014316:Tritium
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D014316:Tritium; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; D003345:Corticosterone