title: Functional interaction between 5-HT(6) receptors and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis: cognitive implications.
abstract: The serotonin 5-HT(6) receptor has become a promising target for the treatment of neuropsychological diseases, such as affective disorders. Increasing evidence implicates stress and its effector system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, in the neurobiology of depression. In addition, there are important memory disturbances in stress-related psychiatric disorders that have been associated to an impairment of the HPA axis reactivity. The aim of the present work is to study the functional interactions between 5-HT(6) receptors and HPA axis. In a situation of increased HPA axis responsiveness (maternal separation, MS) no differences were found in the expression of 5-HT(6) gene in the hippocampus or frontal cortex, although serotonin levels were higher in the frontal cortex of MS rats. 5-HT(6) receptor mRNA expression increased significantly in the hippocampus in a situation of decreased glucocorticoid levels, such as adrenalectomy. Cognitive deficits associated to HPA dysfunction, such those found in the MS model, were fully reversed by administration of SB271046, a selective 5-HT(6) receptor antagonist. A chronic treatment with SB271046 did not modify CRF mRNA levels in the hypothalamus, but there was a higher glucocorticoid receptor density in the hippocampus compared to control. In contrast, in the frontal cortex, treatment with SB271046 induced a significant decrease in glucocorticoid receptor density. These data suggest that expression of 5-HT(6) receptors might be differentially regulated depending on levels of circulating adrenal corticoids. These results are discussed in terms of therapeutical approaches to the treatment of behavioral (depressive-like) and cognitive disturbances associated to an altered response to stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Irunlarrea 1, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marcos
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aisa
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ramírez
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008426:Maternal Deprivation; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; C115068:MS 180; D009025:Morpholines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013876:Thiophenes; C097216:serotonin 6 receptor; D012701:Serotonin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; C117443:SB 271046; D003345:Corticosterone