title: 5-hydroxytryptamine1A-like receptor activation in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis: electrophysiological and behavioral studies.
abstract: The anteriorlateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST AL) and the serotonergic system are believed to modulate behavioral responses to stressful and/or anxiogenic stimuli. However, although the BNST AL receives heavy serotonergic innervation, the functional significance of this input is not known. Data obtained from in vitro whole-cell patch clamp recording in the rat BNST slice show that exogenous application of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) evoked a heterogeneous response in BNST AL neurons. The principal action of 5-HT in this region was inhibitory, evoking a membrane hyperpolarization (5-HTHyp) and a concomitant reduction in input resistance in the majority of neurons tested. The broad-spectrum 5-HT1 agonist, 5-carboxamindotryptamine (5-CT), but not R(+/-)8-hydroxydipropylaminotetralin hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT), mimicked the 5-HTHyp response in the BNST. Moreover, the outward current mediating 5-HTHyp was inwardly rectifying and sensitive to the G protein activated inwardly rectifying K+ (G IRK) channel blocker, tertiapin-Q. In the CNS 5-HT1A receptors are thought to couple to GIRK channels, suggesting that 5-HTHyp in BNST AL neurons was mediated by activation of 5-HT1A-like receptors. This was confirmed by the blockade of both 5-HTHyp and 5-CTHyp by the specific 5-HT1A receptor antagonist N-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-2-pyridinylcyclohexanecarboxamide maleate salt (WAY100635 200nM). Furthermore, an in vivo examination of the functional consequences of 5-HT1A-like induced inhibition of BNST neurons revealed that infusion of 5-CT into the BNST significantly reduced the acoustic startle response, without affecting the general motor activity of the animals. These data point to the possibility that 5-HT1A mediated inhibition of the BNST AL could contribute to an anxiolytic action. Hence, we propose that in response to stressful stimuli, enhanced levels of 5-HT in the BNST AL plays a critical homeostatic role in feedback inhibition of the anxiogenic response to these stimuli.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, Yerkes Neuroscience Building, 954 Gatewood Drive, Room 5220, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Levita
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hammack
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mania
authors.forename: X-Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Rainnie
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000378:metabolism*; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D058825:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D058825:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; D012701:Serotonin