title: An approach for serotonin depletion in pigs: effects on serotonin receptor binding.
abstract: Depletion of central serotonin (5-HT) levels and dysfunction in serotonergic transmission are implicated in a variety of human CNS disorders. The mechanisms behind these serotonergic deficits have been widely studied using rodent models, but only to a limited extent in larger animal models. The pig is increasingly used as an experimental animal model especially in neuroscience research. Here, we present an approach for serotonin depletion in the pig brain. Central serotonin depletion in Danish Landrace pigs was achieved following 4 days treatment with para-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA). On day 5, tissue concentrations of 5-HT in seven distinct brain structures from one hemisphere: frontal and occipital cortex, striatum, hippocampus, cerebellum, rostral, and caudal brain stem, were determined. The other hemisphere was processed for receptor autoradiography. Treatments with 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg pCPA caused average decreases in 5-HT concentrations of 61% ± 14% and 66% ± 16%, respectively, and a substantial loss of 5-HT immunostaining was seen throughout the brain. The serotonin depletion significantly increased 5-HT₄ receptor binding in nucleus accumbens, but did not alter 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2A) receptor or serotonin transporter binding in any brain region. In conclusion, 4 days treatment with pCPA effectively reduces 5-HT levels in the pig brain. Further, whereas several 5-HT markers did not change after the pCPA treatment, 5-HT₄ receptors were consistently upregulated, indicating a greater susceptibility of this receptor to altered 5-HT levels. This porcine model of serotonin depletion will be useful in future studies of cerebral serotonergic dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging (Cimbi), Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. ettrup@nru.dk
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ettrup
authors.forename: Birgitte R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Kornum
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weikop
authors.forename: Gitte M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Knudsen
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D015283:Citalopram / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D044422:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013552:Swine; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014316:Tritium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D015283:Citalopram; D010134:Fenclonine; D044422:Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4; D012701:Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014316:Tritium