Prefrontal serotonergic denervation induces increase in the density of 5-HT2A receptors in adult rat prefrontal cortex.
The 5-HTergic system and particularly 5-HT(2A) receptors have been involved in prefrontal cognitive functions, but the underlying mechanisms by which the serotonin (5-HT) system modulates these processes are still unclear. In this work, the effects of prefrontal 5-HTergic denervation on the density and expression levels of 5-HT(2A) receptors were evaluated by immunohistochemical and molecular biology studies in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The [(3)H]-Ketanserin binding study revealed an increase in the B(max), along with no change in the binding affinity (K(D)) for 5-HT(2A) receptors. The increase in PFC of 5-HT(2A) receptor density in response to denervation was accompanied by increase in 5-HT(2A) receptor mRNA and protein levels. This increase in the number of 5-HT(2A) receptors may be interpreted as an adaptive plastic change, i.e., hypersensitivity; resulting from the selective pharmacological lesion of the raphe-proceeding 5-HTergic fibers to the PFC. Based on previous evidence, this could be strongly related to the abnormal expression of short-term memory.
Soria-Fregozo
Cesar
C
Laboratorio de Psicobiología, Centro Universitario de los Lagos, Universidad de Guadalajara (U. de G.), Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, Mexico.
Pérez-Vega
María Isabel
MI
González-Burgos
Ignacio
I
Feria-Velasco
Alfredo
A
Beas-Zárate
Carlos
C
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D017931:DNA Primers; D003714:Denervation; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*
D017931:DNA Primers; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D012701:Serotonin