Serotonin1A receptor autoradiography during alcohol-withdrawal kindling.
A series of autoradiography experiments were conducted in order to test the theory that the serotonin (5-HT) receptor subtype 5-HT(1a) is involved in alcohol-withdrawal kindled convulsive behaviour. Alcohol-withdrawal kindling was performed by subjecting male Wistar rats to multiple episodes consisting of 2 days of alcohol intoxication and 5 days of alcohol withdrawal. In the first episode alcohol intoxication led to focal downregulation of [3H]-8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin ([3H]-8-OH-DPAT) binding sites in septum and subregions of frontal cortex, hippocampus, and entorhinal cortex. This alcohol-induced response was blunted in both alcohol-withdrawal kindled animals and in animals exposed to repeated alcohol dependence in which the previous withdrawal reactions were blocked by diazepam administration. A paradoxical upregulation of [3H]-8-OH-DPAT binding sites was found in septum and subregions of frontal cortex, hippocampus, and entorhinal cortex in control animals which were fed isocalorically with the alcohol-withdrawal kindled animals and subsequently exposed to 2 days of alcohol intoxication. It was concluded that the alterations in the alcohol induced 5-HT(1a) receptor regulation after multiple episodes of alcohol dependence were not caused by alcohol-withdrawal kindling processes per se, but were due to both alcohol specific and alcohol non-specific effects.
Ulrichsen
J
J
Neuropsychiatric Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Ebert
B
B
Haugbøl
S
S
Bech
B
B
Olsen
C H
CH
Diemer
N H
NH
Hemmingsen
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*
D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D000431:Ethanol