Serotonin 5-HT(2) receptors activate local GABA inhibitory inputs to serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus.
The purpose of the present study was to characterize the synaptic currents induced by bath-applied serotonin (5-HT) in 5-HT cells of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) and to determine which 5-HT receptor subtypes mediate these effects. In rat brain slices, 5-HT induced a concentration-dependent increase in the frequency of inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in 5-HT neurons recorded intracellularly in the ventral part of the DRN (EC(50): 86 microM); 5-HT also increased IPSC amplitude. These effects were blocked by the GABA(A) receptor antagonist, bicuculline (10 microM) and by the fast sodium channel blocker, TTX, suggesting that 5-HT had increased impulse flow in local GABAergic neurons. DAMGO (300 nM), a selective mu-agonist, markedly suppressed the increase in IPSC frequency induced by 5-HT (100 microM) in the DRN. A near maximal concentration of the selective 5-HT(2A) antagonist, MDL100,907 (30 nM), produced a large reduction ( approximately 70%) in the increase in IPSC frequency induced by 100 microM 5-HT; SB242,084 (30 nM), a selective 5-HT(2C) antagonist, was less effective ( approximately 24% reduction). Combined drug application suppressed the increase in 5-HT-induced IPSC frequency almost completely, suggesting involvement of both 5-HT(2A) and 5-HT(2C) receptors. Unexpectedly, the phenethylamine hallucinogen, DOI, a partial agonist at 5-HT(2A/2C) receptors, caused a greater increase (+334%) in IPSC frequency than did 5-HT 100 microM (+80%). This result may be explained by an opposing 5-HT(1A) inhibitory effect since the selective 5-HT(1A) antagonist, WAY-100635, enhanced the 5-HT-induced increase in IPSCs. These results indicate that within the DRN-PAG area there may be a negative feedback loop in which 5-HT induces an increase in IPSC frequency in 5-HT cells by exciting GABAergic interneurons in the DRN via 5-HT(2A) and, to a lesser extent, 5-HT(2C) receptors. Increased GABA tone may explain the previous observation of an indirect suppression of firing of a subpopulation of 5-HT cells in the DRN induced by phenethylamine hallucinogens in vivo.
Department of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine and The Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven, CT 06508, USA.
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D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007215:Indophenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D010879:Piperazines; D011725:Pyridines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; C113896:dimethoxy-4-indophenyl-2-aminopropane; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D012701:Serotonin; D007215:Indophenol; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C090413:N-(2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide