title: Differential galanin receptor-1 and galanin expression by 5-HT neurons in dorsal raphé nucleus of rat and mouse: evidence for species-dependent modulation of serotonin transmission.
abstract: Galanin and galanin receptors are widely expressed by neurons in rat brain that either synthesize/release and/or are responsive to, classical transmitters such as gamma-aminobutyric acid, acetylcholine, noradrenaline, histamine, dopamine and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT). The dorsal raphé nucleus (DRN) contains approximately 50% of the 5-HT neurons in the rat brain and a high percentage of these cells coexpress galanin and are responsive to exogenous galanin in vitro. However, the precise identity of the galanin receptor(s) present on these 5-HT neurons has not been previously established. Thus, the current study used a polyclonal antibody for the galanin receptor-1 (GalR1) to examine the possible expression of this receptor within the DRN of the rat and for comparative purposes also in the mouse. In the rat, intense GalR1-immunoreactivity (IR) was detected in a substantial population of 5-HT-immunoreactive neurons in the DRN, with prominent receptor immunostaining associated with soma and proximal dendrites. GalR1-IR was also observed in many cells within the adjacent median raphé nucleus. In mouse DRN, neurons exhibited similar levels and distribution of 5-HT-IR to that in the rat, but GalR1-IR was undetectable. Consistent with this, galanin and GalR1 mRNA were also undetectable in mouse DRN by in situ hybridization histochemistry, despite the detection of GalR1 mRNA (and GalR1-IR) in adjacent cells in the periaqueductal grey and other midbrain areas. 5-HT neuron activity in the DRN is primarily regulated via 5-HT1A autoreceptors, via inhibition of adenylate cyclase and activation of inward-rectifying K+ channels. Notably, the GalR1 receptor subtype signals via identical mechanisms and our findings establish that galanin modulates 5-HT neuron activity in the DRN of the rat via GalR1 (auto)receptors. However, these studies also identify important species differences in the relationship between midbrain galanin and 5-HT systems, which should prompt further investigations in relation to comparative human neurochemistry and which have implications for studies of animal models of relevant neurological conditions such as stress, anxiety and depression.
authors.affiliation: Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine, Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jari A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Larm
authors.forename: Pei-Juan
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gundlach
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017660:Autoreceptors / Q000187:drug effects; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D019004:Galanin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044088:Receptors, Galanin; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D017660:Autoreceptors; D044088:Receptors, Galanin; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D012701:Serotonin; D019004:Galanin; D010544:Peroxidases; C037561:diaminobenzidine peroxidase