title: Chronic fluoxetine induces opposite changes in G protein coupling at pre and postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors in rat brain.
abstract: Chronic treatment with the antidepressant fluoxetine may lead to changes in the properties of pre- and postsynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors due to modifications in the receptor-G protein coupling process. We have evaluated, in rats, the effect of chronic fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day) at brain 5-HT(1A) receptors using different techniques. The density of 5-HT(1A) receptors was unchanged in fluoxetine-treated rats vs. vehicle group. Stimulation of [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding induced by (+/-)8-OH-DPAT was significantly attenuated in dorsal raphe nucleus after fluoxetine (+3.7 vs. +31.2% in vehicle). The inhibition of dorsal raphe firing by (+/-)8-OH-DPAT (ED(50) in vehicle = 2.1 microg/kg, i.v.) was also attenuated in rats treated with fluoxetine (ED(50)=4.7 microg/kg). In contrast, a significant increase on (+/-)8-OH-DPAT-induced stimulation of [(35)S]GTPgammaS binding was observed in CA(1) (+53.4 vs.+20.2% in vehicle) and dentate gyrus (+105.7 vs. +52.6% in vehicle) but not in entorhinal cortex. Our data demonstrate that fluoxetine-induced desensitization of 5-HT(1A) autoreceptors occurs at G protein level. Moreover, a relevant finding is the region-specific hypersensitivity of postsynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors, in the hippocampus but not in entorhinal cortex, following chronic fluoxetine. These differential adaptive changes in brain 5-HT(1A) receptors could underlie the mechanism of action of antidepressants and also contribute to their clinical effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Cardenal Herrera Oria s/n, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
authors.forename: M  Elena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: del Olmo
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pazos
mesh_terms: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D017660:Autoreceptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017661:Receptors, Presynaptic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; D017660:Autoreceptors; D005473:Fluoxetine; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); D017661:Receptors, Presynaptic; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D044263:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors