title: Control of serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus by the lateral hypothalamus.
abstract: Anatomical evidence indicates the presence of projections from the lateral hypothalamus to serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR). Using dual probe microdialysis and extracellular recordings in the DR, we show that the application of GABAergic agents in the lateral hypothalamus modulates the activity of 5-HT neurons in the DR. GABA and bicuculline or baclofen, applied in the lateral hypothalamus significantly reduced and increased, respectively, the 5-HT output in the DR. Likewise, the intrahypothalamic application of GABA and bicuculline reduced (14/20 neurons) and increased (8/12 neurons), respectively, the firing rate of 5-HT neurons in the DR. A smaller percentage of neurons, however, were excited by GABA (3/20) and inhibited by bicuculline (1/12). Application of tetrodotoxin in the lateral hypothalamus suppressed the local 5-HT output and reduced that in the DR. The 5-HT output in the DR increased transiently soon after darkness. The hypothalamic application of GABA attenuated and that of bicuculline potentiated this spontaneous change with an efficacy similar to that seen in light conditions. These results indicate that the lateral hypothalamus is involved in the control of 5-HT activity in the DR, possibly through excitatory (major) and inhibitory (minor) inputs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurochemistry, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Barcelona, CSIC (IDIBAPS), Rosselló 161, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pau
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Celada
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Casanovas
authors.forename: Ximena
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Paez
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Artigas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D007026:Hypothalamic Area, Lateral / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018756:GABA Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid