Serotonin modulates electrosensory processing and behavior via 5-HT2-like receptors.
Efficient sensory processing of the environment is a critical function for any organism to survive and is accomplished by having neurons adapt their responses to stimuli based on behavioral context in part through neuromodulators such as serotonin (5-HT). We have recently shown that one critical function of the serotonergic system in weakly electric fish is to enhance sensory pyramidal neuron responses within the electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL) to stimuli caused by same sex conspecifics, thereby enhancing their perception. This enhancement is accomplished by making pyramidal neurons more excitable through downregulation of potassium channels. However, the nature of the 5-HT receptors that mediate this effect is not known. Here we show that the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist ketanserin (ket) can effectively block the effects of 5-HT on pyramidal neuron excitability in vitro. Indeed, 5-HT application subsequent to ket application did not cause any significant changes in neuron excitability and responses to current injection. We further show that ket applied in vivo can block the effects of 5-HT on behavioral responses. Thus, our results strongly suggest that the previously observed effects of 5-HT on sensory processing within ELL and their consequences for behavior are mediated by 5-HT2 receptors.
Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
E A
EA
Larson
Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
M G
MG
Metzen
Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Physics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: maurice.chacron@mcgill.ca.
M J
MJ
Chacron
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004557:Electric Organ / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D023702:Gymnotiformes; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010465:Perception / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012249:Rhombencephalon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D058830:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D058830:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin; D007650:Ketanserin
neural coding; neuroethology; neuromodulation; weakly electric fish