Acute treatment with the antidepressant fluoxetine internalizes 5-HT1A autoreceptors and reduces the in vivo binding of the PET radioligand [18F]MPPF in the nucleus raphe dorsalis of rat.
Because 5-HT1A receptors located on the soma dendrites of serotonin (5-HT) neurons normally mediate an inhibition of 5-HT firing and release, the desensitization of these autoreceptors is essential for obtaining an enhancement of 5-HT transmission after treatment with 5-HT reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). We have demonstrated previously, using immunoelectron microscopy with specific 5-HT1A antibodies, that an internalization of 5-HT1A autoreceptors is associated with their desensitization in rats given a single dose of the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin. Here, we examined the subcellular distribution of 5-HT1A receptors in dendrites from nucleus raphe dorsalis (NRD) (autoreceptors) and hippocampus (heteroreceptors) after acute treatment with the antidepressant SSRI, fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p.). In parallel experiments, the kinetics of in vivo binding of the 5-HT1A positron emission tomography radioligand 4,2-(methoxyphenyl)-1-[2-(N-2-pyridinyl)-p-fluorobenzamido]ethylpiperazine ([18F]MPPF) was measured in these two brain regions by means of stereotaxically implanted beta microprobes. One hour after treatment, there was a 36% decrease in 5-HT1A immunogold labeling of the plasma membrane of NRD dendrites, and a concomitant increase in their cytoplasmic labeling, without any change in hippocampal dendrites. In vivo binding of [18F]MPPF was reduced by 35% in NRD and unchanged in hippocampus. Both effects were blocked by pretreatment with the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist (N-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-(2-pyridinyl) cyclohexane-carboxamide) (1 mg/kg, i.p.). In brain sections of NRD and hippocampus, [18F]MPPF autoradiographic labeling did not differ between fluoxetine- and saline-treated rats. These immunocytochemical results confirmed that internalization of 5-HT1A autoreceptors may account for their desensitization, and the microprobe results suggest that this prerequisite for antidepressant treatment efficacy could be amenable to brain imaging in humans.
Riad
Mustapha
M
Department of Pathology, and Centre de Recherche en Sciences Neurologiques, Faculty of Medicine, Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3C 3J7.
Zimmer
Luc
L
Rbah
Latifa
L
Watkins
Kenneth C
KC
Hamon
Michel
M
Descarries
Laurent
L
D000818:Animals; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001345:Autoradiography; D017660:Autoreceptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010879:Piperazines; D011725:Pyridines; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D058829:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D017660:Autoreceptors; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005473:Fluoxetine; D010879:Piperazines; D011725:Pyridines; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; D058829:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; C416325:4-(2'-methoxyphenyl)-1-(2'-(N-2'-pyridinyl)-p-(18F)fluorobenzamido )ethylpiperazine