Dopaminergic neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) have been implicated in the rewarding properties of drugs of abuse and in the etiology of schizophrenia; serotonin modulation of these neurons may play a role in these phenomena. Whole cell patch-in-the-slice recording in rat brain slices was used to investigate modulation of the hyperpolarization-activated cationic current Ih by serotoni...

We studied the effects of serotonin on pial arterioles in anesthetized cats equipped with acutely implanted cranial window for the observation of the pial microcirculation. Serotonin topically applied caused cerebral arteriolar constriction. Ketanserin, a specific 5-HT2 inhibitor, completely blocked the vascular response of serotonin. Aggregated platelet supernatant was topically applied and ca...

The influence of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and serotonin analogues on the direct current electroretinogram (d.c. ERG) and the standing potential of the albino rabbit eye (SP) was studied. After unilateral vitrectomy, corneal recordings were obtained during simultaneous intravitreal perfusion with a control solution alternating with 5-HT at concentrations of 25, 120 and 200 microM. T...

The purpose of the present study is to clarify the effect of clonidine on the release of serotonin from the rat hippocampus in vivo. For this purpose, endogenous serotonin release was measured by brain microdialysis. Potassium-evoked serotonin release from the hippocampus of freely moving rats was significantly inhibited when clonidine (10(-5) M) was added to the perfusion solution, while the 5...

We describe a direct radioimmunoassay for serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) in cerebrospinal fluid, platelet-poor plasma, and serum. We raised antisera in rabbits against serotonin diazotized to a conjugate of bovine albumin and D,L-p-aminophenylalanine. Polyethylene glycol, alone or in combination with anti-rabbit immunoglobulins, is used to separate bound and unbound tritiated serotonin. The mi...

Background and Objective: It has been shown that the opioidergic system exerts widespread effects on cognitive functions. Interactions between opioid and serotonin receptors have been reported in some brain structures such as the dorsal hippocampus, thus a functional interaction between opioids and serotonin seems possible concerning memory control. The purpose of this study was to assess the e...

Abstract Plasticity is a fundamental property of the neural system controlling breathing. One key example respiratory motor plasticity phrenic long-term facilitation (pLTF), persistent increase in nerve activity elicited by acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH). pLTF can arise from distinct cell signaling cascades initiated serotonin versus adenosine receptor activation, respectively; these interact...

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) is a constitutively active protein kinase that is involved in neuronal regulation and is a potential pharmacological target of neurological disorders. We found previously that GSK3β selectively interacts with 5-hydroxytryptamine-1B receptors (5-HT1BR) that have important functions in serotonin neurotransmission and behavior. In this study, we provide new inform...

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a mood-altering, legally restricted drug that has been reported to inhibit glutamate-evoked firing of cells in the nucleus accumbens. This study used extracellular recording combined with microiontophoresis to examine whether the inhibitory effect of MDMA on neuronal firing in the nucleus accumbens is mediated by serotonin and/or dopamine. Serotonin and s...