title: Behavioral characterization of serotonergic activation in the flatworm Planaria.
abstract: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) receptors have been identified in Planaria, a model used for studying the pharmacology of behavioral phenomena. This study characterized the behavioral and locomotor effects of 5-HT, a 5-HT1A agonist, a 5-HT1B/2C agonist, and a 5-HT1A antagonist to examine the role of 5-HT receptor activation in this species. Planarians were video recorded individually in a clear plastic cube containing drug solution or vehicle. To quantify locomotor velocity (pLMV), planarians were placed individually into a dish containing drug solution or vehicle and the rate of gridline crossings was recorded. For the antagonist experiments, four conditions were studied: water alone, agonist alone, antagonist alone, and agonist plus antagonist. The decrease in pLMV induced by the5-HT1A agonist (8-OH-DPAT), and the 5-HT1B/2C agonist (mCPP), was antagonized by pretreatment with the 5-HT1A antagonist (WAY-100635) at a dose that had no effect of its own on pLMV. At a higher concentration of WAY-100635, further decreases in pLMV induced by 8-OH-DPAT were observed. Each agonist produced increased occurrences of 'C-like position' and 'screw-like hyperkinesia', 5-HT and mCPP produced 'writhing', and only mCPP produced a significant increase in duration of 'headswing' behavior. The results demonstrate that the 5-HT1A receptor identified in Planaria mediates behavioral responses to 5-HT receptor ligands, supporting the notion that planarians possess functional 5-HT receptors and might serve as a simple model for their study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, USA.
authors.forename: Martilias S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Farrell
authors.forename: Kirsti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gilmore
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Raffa
authors.forename: Ellen A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D023421:Models, Animal; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010932:Planarians; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B / Q000378:metabolism; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D058825:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists; D058826:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D011725:Pyridines; D044302:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1B; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; D058825:Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists; D058826:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D044282:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT1A; D012701:Serotonin; C090413:N-(2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; C015068:1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine