Developmental expression of 5-HT7 receptor mRNA in rat brain visual structures after neonatal enucleation.
Binocular enucleation is a useful experimental tool for studying mechanisms of neuronal plasticity. Serotonin (5-HT) is a neuromodulator that mediates a wide range of physiological functions by activating multiple receptors. We have performed an in situ hybridization study to analyse in detail the regional distribution of 5-HT7 receptor mRNA expression during postnatal development in different brain visual areas following neonatal binocular enucleation. We found that eye removal clearly induced 5-HT7 receptor mRNA expression in the stratum opticum of superior colliculus, this effect being especially evident at postnatal day 21 (P21). Similarly, there was a clear lesion-induced up-regulation of receptor mRNA expression in the primary visual cortex from P15 through P21. These results suggest a plastic role of 5-HT7 receptor during neurogenesis triggered by eye removal.
Venero
J L
JL
Departmento de Bioquímica, Bromatolología y Toxicología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain.
Vizuete
M L
ML
Machado
A
A
Cano
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000235:genetics*; D015348:Vision, Binocular; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin