title: 5-HT1A receptors mediate (+)8-OH-DPAT-stimulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAP kinase) in vivo in rat hypothalamus: time dependence and regional differences.
abstract: Brain serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptors play an important role in mood disorders and can modulate various intracellular signaling mechanisms. We previously reported that systemic administration of either full or partial 5-HT1A agonists increases neuroendocrine responses and that tandospirone, an azapirone partial agonist, can activate (phosphorylate) extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). In contrast, decreased levels of phosphoERK (pERK) have been reported in hippocampus following in vivo administration of either azapirone or aminotetralin 5-HT1A agonists, such as 8-hydroxy-2-dipropylaminotetralin (8-OH-DPAT). The present study investigated the time-dependent activation of MAP kinase in hypothalamus by (+)8-OH-DPAT to determine the regional differences and receptor specificity of the changes in pERK. Adult male rats received a systemic injection of (+)8-OH-DPAT (200 microg/kg, s.c.). The time-dependent changes in ERK activation were examined in hypothalamic nuclei as well as other brain regions associated with modulation of mood. (+)8-OH-DPAT produced a rapid increase (at 5 min) and transient return (at 15 min) of pERK levels in PVN and medial basal hypothalamus. In contrast, pERK levels in hippocampus were reduced at both 5 and 15 min after (+)8-OH-DPAT. Pretreatment with the 5-HT1A receptor-specific antagonist N-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide (WAY100635) completely blocked the (+)8-OH-DPAT-mediated changes in pERK levels in PVN, medial basal hypothalamus, and hippocampus. No significant (+)8-OH-DPAT-induced changes in pERK were observed in dorsal raphe or amygdala. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that 8-OH-DPAT activation of MAP kinase signaling in vivo is a transient and region-specific phenomenon and in rat hypothalamus and hippocampus is mediated by 5-HT1A receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, 2160 S. First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Gonzalo A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Cuihong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Nicole R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Deborah N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.forename: Yahong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Louis D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Van de Kar
authors.forename: Nancy A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Muma
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Battaglia
mesh_terms: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003720:Densitometry; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000502:physiology*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases