title: Selective 5-HT7 Receptor Activation May Enhance Synaptic Plasticity Through N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) Receptor Activity in the Visual Cortex.
abstract: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is an important neurotransmitter that modulates N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activity by binding to several different 5-HT receptor subtypes. In the present study, we used whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in transverse slice preparations to test the role of 5-HT receptors in modulating the NMDA receptor-mediated miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in layer II/III pyramidal neurons of the rat visual cortex. We found that the NMDA receptor-mediated component of mEPSCs could be potentiated by exogenously applied 5-HT. Similar results were obtained by exogenously applied 5-CT or 8-OH-DPAT (the 5-HT&lt;sub&gt;1A&lt;/sub&gt; and 5-HT7 receptor agonist). A specific antagonist for the 5-HT&lt;sub&gt;7&lt;/sub&gt; receptor, SB-269970, completely blocked the increase in NMDA receptor-mediated component of mEPSCs by 5-CT or 8- OH-DPAT. Moreover, the selective 5-HT&lt;sub&gt;1A&lt;/sub&gt; receptor antagonist, WAY-100135, displayed no influence on the enhancement in NMDA receptor-mediated component of mEPSCs by 5-CT or 8-OHDPAT. These results indicated that the increase in NMDA receptor-mediated component of mEPSCs by 5-HT in layer II/III pyramidal neurons of the young rat visual cortex requires activation of 5-HT&lt;sub&gt;7&lt;/sub&gt; receptors, but not 5-HT&lt;sub&gt;1A&lt;/sub&gt; receptors. These observations might be clinically relevant to schizophrenia and Alzheimer&amp;#039;s disease (AD), where enhancing NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission is considered to be a promising strategy for treatment of these diseases.
authors: Kangjian
authors: K
authors: Xiang
authors: Xuefei
authors: X
authors: Zhao
authors: Youjun
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Zheng
authors: Jue
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, and Research Center of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi&#39;an, Shaanxi 710049, P. R. China. liyanhai@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
authors: Yan-Hai
authors: YH
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010636:Phenols; D010879:Piperazines; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; C404922:SB 269970; D013449:Sulfonamides; C081293:WAY 100135