Up-regulation of serotonergic binding sites labeled by [3H]WB4101 following fimbrial transection and 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine-induced lesions

Agonist- and antagonist-induced plasticity of rat 5-HT1A receptor in hippocampal cell culture

We examined the response and regulation of 5-HT1A receptor on hippocampal cultured fetal neurons grown in the absence of serotonin and steroids using three experimental designs: 1) functional response using an antibody against phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (pCREB); 2) transcriptional regulation using in situ hybridization; and 3) translational expression using antipeptide 5-HT1A receptor antibody. Pretreatment of cultured hippocampal cells with the agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-N-propylamino)-tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) (10(-8) M) or ipsapirone (IPS) (10(-9) M) for 10 min blocked the forskolin-stimulated increase in pCREB immunoreactivity. In situ hybridization radioautography revealed that IPS (10(-9) M) decreased the 5-HT1A receptor mRNA expression (-33%) after a 24-h treatment. The decrease in 5-HT1A receptor mRNAwas accompanied by a change in protein immunoreactivity using a 5-HT1A receptor antipeptide antibody. Computer-assisted morphometric analyses showed a reduction in the 5-HT1A receptor immunoreactive (IR) intensity as compared to control 24 h after treatment with 8-OH-DPAT (10(-7)-10(-12) M) and IPS (10(-9) M). Thus, fetal hippocampal neurons have a functional 5-HT1A receptor that is downregulated at both the transcription and translation levels. In addition, we found increased 5-HT1A receptor-IR intensity (+17% approximately +39%) 24 h after treatment with the antagonist N-[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-(2-pyridinyl) cyclohexane carboxamide (WAY 100635) (10(-7)-10(-12) M). Our results indicate that the 5-HT1A receptor is sensitive to both agonists (downregulation) and antagonists (upregulation) in hippocampal fetal neurons grown in the absence of serotonin and steroids.

The fimbria-fornix/cingular bundle pathways: a review of neurochemical and behavioural approaches using lesions and transplantation techniques

Extensive lesions of the fimbria-fornix pathways and the cingular bundle deprive the hippocampus of a substantial part of its cholinergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic afferents and, among several other behavioural alterations, induce lasting impairment of spatial learning and memory capabilities. After a brief presentation of the neuroanatomical organization of the hippocampus and the connections relevant to the topic of this article, studies which have contributed to characterize the neurochemical and behavioural aspects of the fimbria-fornix lesion "syndrome" with lesion techniques differing by the extent, the location or the specificity of the damage produced, are reviewed. Furthermore, several compensatory changes that may occur as a reaction to hippocampal denervation (sprouting changes in receptor sensitivity and modifications of neurotransmitter turnover in spared fibres) are described and discussed in relation with their capacity (or incapacity) to foster recovery from the lesion-induced deficits. According to this background, experiments using intrahippocampal or "parahippocampal" grafts to substitute for missing cholinergic, noradrenergic or serotonergic afferents are considered according to whether the reported findings concern neurochemical and/or behavioural effects. Taken together, these experiments suggest that appropriately chosen fetal neurons (or other cells such as for instance, genetically-modified fibroblasts) implanted into or close to the denervated hippocampus may substitute, at least partially, for missing hippocampal afferents with a neurochemical specificity that closely depends on the neurochemical identity of the grafted neurons. Thereby, such grafts are able not only to restore some functions as they can be detected locally, namely within the hippocampus, but also to attenuate some of the behavioural (and other types of) disturbances resulting from the lesions. In some respects, also these graft-induced behavioural effects might be considered as occurring with a neurochemically-defined specificity. Nevertheless, if a graft-induced recovery of neurochemical markers in the hippocampus seems to be a prerequisite for also behavioural recovery to be observed, this neurochemical recovery is neither the one and only condition for behavioural effects to be expressed, nor is it the one and only mechanism to account for the latter effects.

Alterations of serotonin receptor binding in the hypothalamus following acute denervation

Quantitative autoradiography was used to determine the effect of acute serotonergic denervation with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) or serotonin 5HT1a and 5-HT1b receptors in male rats. Seven days after intrahypothalamic 5,7-DHT injection there was a significant increase in the density of 5HT1a receptors in the ventromedial and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei (VMN and DMN) of male rats. In adjacent sections. 5-HT1b receptors were significantly increased only in the VMN. No changes in receptor density were observed in the lateral hypothalamic area or hippocampus even though binding of [3H]paroxetine, which labels the presynaptic transporter site, was significantly decreased in all evaluated brain regions in 5,7-DHT-treated animals. In addition to demonstrating that 5-HT1a and 5-HT1b receptors are differentially regulated in different brain areas, these results show that in the brain regions examined both 5-HT1a and 5-HT1b receptors are primarily post-synaptic.

Structural determinants of 5-HT1A versus 5-HT1D receptor binding site selectivity

A structure-activity analysis was used to identify selective 5-HT1A versus 5-HT1D receptor agents. An analysis of published data identified 13 drugs which display nanomolar affinity for the 5-HT1A receptor and that have been analyzed at 5-HT1D receptor binding sites. Four agents display greater than or equal to 100-fold selectivity for the 5-HT1A receptor. Two structural features were identified which hypothetically result in selectivity for 5-HT1A versus 5-HT1D binding sites. The linkage of an indole ring to a basic nitrogen atom via the 4 position on the indole ring or the absence of an indole ring are two features which lower the affinity for the 5-HT1D receptor, but do not necessarily lower the affinity for the 5-HT1A receptor. A series of 7 agents (5 indoles, 2 quinolines) was identified which met these hypothetical selectivity criteria. These compounds were then analyzed in radioligand binding studies. These 7 agents display affinities of 1.3-170 nM for the 5-HT1A receptor binding site, and 1,800-13,000 nM for the 5-HT1D receptor binding site. All 7 agents display greater than or equal to 47-fold selectivity for the 5-HT1A versus 5-HT1D site and 4 of the agents are greater than 100-fold selective. Compound No. 1 (N,N'-bis[3-(4-indolyloxy)-2-hydroxypropyl]-(Z)-1,8-diamino-p-meth ane) and compound No. 2 (N8-[3-(4-indolyloxy)-2-hydroxypropyl]-N1-(propioloyl)-(Z)-1 ,8-diamino-p-methane) are the most selective agents yet described for 5-HT1A versus 5-HT1D receptor binding sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Identification of 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptor agents using a composite pharmacophore analysis and chemical database screening

A composite pharmacophore analysis and computer-assisted chemical database screening were used to identify a previously unrecognized class of 5-hydroxy-tryptamine1A (5-HT1A) receptor active agents. An analysis of published data led to the identification of 20 different chemical structures which share nanomolar affinity for the 5-HT1A receptor. From a composite pharmacophore analysis of all 20 potent agents, we hypothesized that compounds containing a novel (in terms of 5-HT1A receptor analysis) 3 ring structure might be active at the 5-HT1A receptor. To test this hypothesis, the Chemical Abstracts database, which contains over 10 million compounds, was screened electronically for compounds that contain this core structure. A series of 319 agents was identified which contain this core structure. A total of 6 compounds was then obtained commercially and evaluated in radioligand binding studies. A single agent (Compound 69/183) conformed most closely to the composite 5-HT1A pharmacophore and displayed an affinity of 20 nmol/l for the 5-HT1A receptor binding site. Two other agents displayed affinities of 170 and 500 nmol/l, respectively, for the 5-HT1A receptor site. The 3 agents which differed most significantly from the composite 5-HT1A pharmacophore displayed affinities of 1,200- greater than 10,000 nmol/l for the 5-HT1A receptor binding site. These data suggest that a composite pharmacophore analysis and computer-assisted chemical database screening can be an effective technique for the identification of previously unrecognized receptor active agents.

Adrenoreceptor antagonist treatment influences recovery of learning following medial septal lesions and hippocampal sympathetic ingrowth

Previous studies have demonstrated that in male rats hippocampal sympathetic ingrowth (HSI), which is induced by medial septal lesions (MS), is detrimental to recovery of spatial learning. The present study was performed in an attempt to determine if this effect was mediated through adrenergic receptor activity. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent training on a modified version (i.e., 4 arms baited) of a radial-8-arm maze task. Following attainment of learning criterion animals underwent one of three surgical procedures: CON (sham surgeries); MSGx (MS + superior cervical ganglionectomy--to prevent HSI); MS (MS + sham ganglionectomy). Reacquisition trials were performed in the same manner as initial acquisition except animals were treated with vehicle, propranolol (20 mg/kg), or phentolamine (20 mg/kg) 30 minutes prior to testing. As expected, vehicle-treated MS animals took longer to reacquire the task than MSGx animals, who were in turn more impaired than CON animals. Propranolol (beta-adrenergic antagonist) treatment impaired performance of both the MS and MSGx group, but did not alter the CON group. Phentolamine (alpha-adrenergic antagonist) increased the number of trials to reattain criterion in the CON group, had no effect in the MSGx group, and markedly improved performance in the MS group. The results suggest that HSI mediates its detrimental effects through alpha-receptors, while beta-blockade, in the setting of brain injury, is detrimental to performance regardless of the presence or absence of HSI.

Norepinephrine-stimulated inositol phospholipid breakdown in the rat cerebral cortex following serotoninergic lesion

Norepinephrine (NE)-stimulated inositol phospholipid hydrolysis ("PI breakdown") in rat cerebral cortical miniprisms was used as a measure of alpha 1-adrenoceptor function following serotonin and/or NE depletion. The use of ascorbic acid to prevent autooxidation of the NE during the PI breakdown assay was found to be warranted. Treatment of rats with 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine and DSP4 produced selective depletions of serotonin (79-95%) and NE (69-85%), respectively, in cortical and hippocampal brain regions. The degree of cortical NE-stimulated PI breakdown in the lesioned animals was not significantly different from that in the control animals, suggesting that under the conditions used, serotonin and NE depletion do not lead to a changed sensitivity of alpha 1-adrenoceptors coupled to PI breakdown in the rat cortex.

Sympathetic sprouting in the central nervous system: a model for studies of axonal growth in the mature mammalian brain

Sympathetic fibers innervate many peripheral tissues but are normally confined to extracerebral structures within the cranial cavity, e.g. blood vessels. The invasion of the central nervous system by vascular sympathetic axons is a unique example of neuronal plasticity which provides new information concerning the regulation and mechanisms of neuronal sprouting in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. In this paper, the principal findings concerning the conditions under which such sprouting occurs, the mechanisms which may be involved, and the question of its possible function are reviewed. Of special interest is the fact that a nerve growth factor-like brain factor may be involved in this growth response. The principles gleaned from studies of this sprouting phenomenon may be applicable to other models of neuronal plasticity and may have clinical relevance.