Time course analysis of para-chlorophenylalanine induced suppression of self-stimulation behavior

Serotonergic regulation of the dopaminergic system: Implications for reward-related functions

Serotonin is a critical neuromodulator involved in development and behavior. Its role in reward is however still debated. Here, we first review classical studies involving electrical stimulation protocols and pharmacological approaches. Contradictory results on the serotonergic' involvement in reward emerge from these studies. These differences might be ascribable to either the diversity of cellular types within the raphe nuclei or/and the specific projection pathways of serotonergic neurons. We continue to review more recent work, using optogenetic approaches to activate serotonergic cells in the Raphe to VTA pathway. From these studies, it appears that activation of this pathway can lead to reinforcement learning mediated through the excitation of dopaminergic neurons by serotonergic neurons co-transmitting glutamate. Finally, given the importance of serotonin during development on adult emotion, the effect of abnormal early-life levels of serotonin on the dopaminergic system will also be discussed. Understanding the interaction between the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems during development and adulthood is critical to gain insight into the specific facets of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Mood is indirectly related to serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine levels in humans: a meta-analysis of monoamine depletion studies

Dysfunction in the monoamine systems of serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) may causally be related to major depressive disorder (MDD). Monoamine depletion studies investigate the direct effects of monoamines on mood. Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) or para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) deplete 5-HT, acute phenylalanine/tyrosine depletion (APTD) or alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT) deplete NE/DA. Available depletion studies found conflicting results in heterogeneous populations: healthy controls, patients with previous MDD in remission and patients suffering from MDD. The decrease in mood after 5-HT and NE/DA depletion in humans is reviewed and quantified. Systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE (1966-October 2006) and cross-references was carried out. Randomized studies applying ATD, PCPA, APTD or AMPT vs control depletion were included. Pooling of results by meta-analyses was stratified for studied population and design of the study (within or between subjects). Seventy-three ATD, 2 PCPA, 10 APTD and 8 AMPT studies were identified of which 45 ATD and 8 APTD studies could be meta-analyzed. 5-HT or NE/DA depletion did not decrease mood in healthy controls. 5-HT or NE/DA depletion slightly lowered mood in healthy controls with a family history of MDD. In drug-free patients with MDD in remission, a moderate mood decrease was found for ATD, without an effect of APTD. ATD induced relapse in patients with MDD in remission who used serotonergic antidepressants. In conclusion, monoamine depletion studies demonstrate decreased mood in subjects with a family history of MDD and in drug-free patients with MDD in remission, but do not decrease mood in healthy humans. Although depletion studies usefully investigate the etiological link of 5-HT and NE with MDD, they fail to demonstrate a causal relation. They presumably clarify a vulnerability trait to become depressed. Directions for further investigation of this vulnerability trait are proposed.

Cholinergic antagonists in ventral tegmentum elevate thresholds for lateral hypothalamic and brainstem self-stimulation

Frequency thresholds for lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation are elevated following microinjections of atropine into ventral tegmentum (73). Many self-stimulation sites in brainstem are situated near cholinergic cell groups and axons, and ventral tegmentum receives cholinergic afferents terminals. To test the hypothesis that ventral tegmental muscarinic receptors are involved in lateral hypothalamic and brainstem self-stimulation, stimulating electrodes were placed in lateral hypothalamus and dorsal tegmentum near the midbrain-pons border, and cannulae were implanted in ventral tegmentum. Microgram injections of muscarinic antagonists, atropine or scopolamine, or a choline uptake blocker, hemicholinium-3, elevated frequency thresholds for both self-stimulation sites in a dose-dependent and time-dependent fashion. In addition, summation and collision between the two self-stimulation sites was tested using paired-pulse methods (53). Summation ranged from 31 to 87% (i.e., 24 to 47% reductions in frequency threshold were observed at long intrapair intervals), but no collision-like effects were observed at short intrapair intervals. The ventral tegmentum is a likely site for the convergence of dorsal tegmental and lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation pathways.

Differential effects of p-chlorophenylalanine on indoleamines in brainstem nuclei and spinal cord of rats. II. Identification of immunohistochemically stained structures using computer-assisted image enhancement techniques

Following intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA, 400 and 600 mg/kg) on 3 consecutive days, the brainstem and lumbar cord of rats were removed, frozen-sectioned and immunohistochemically stained (PAP method) for serotonin (5-HT). Using computer-assisted image analysis, the density of 5-HT staining in control, 400 and 600 mg/kg PCPA groups was determined. The mean number of pixels (representing 5-HT staining) was determined in 6 areas in the brainstem containing 5-HT cell bodies (nuclei raphe pallidus, raphe obscurus, rostral and caudal raphe magnus, raphe dorsalis and paragigantocellularis lateralis) and in the dorsal and ventral spinal cord. The results suggest a differential depletion of 5-HT within brainstem nuclei following PCPA treatment in that the most marked dose-related reductions were observed in nucleus raphe obscurus and caudal nucleus raphe magnus. Furthermore, a computer program designed to isolate terminal structures in the spinal cord identified a differential depletion of 5-HT terminals in the dorsal horn versus the ventral horn. The present study describes 3 analytical approaches combining immunohistochemistry with the computer-assisted image analysis technique and allows comparison between groups of animals which received the same or different drug treatments.

Effects of quipazine and of tryptamine on self-stimulation of median raphé nucleus and of lateral hypothalamus in rats

Separate groups of male Wistar rats were trained to lever press on a continuous reinforcement schedule under which behaviour was maintained by electrical stimulation of the median raphé nucleus (N = 6) or the lateral hypothalamus (N = 6). The effects of several doses of quipazine (2.5-7.1 mg/kg) and of tryptamine (10-80 mg/kg) were assessed with each group. Administration of quipazine resulted in a decrease of median raphé self-stimulation at 5.0 and 7.1 mg/kg. This compound had no statistically significant effect on lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation. Administration of tryptamine resulted in significant decreases in self-stimulation at both sites, however, whereas the effects of this drug were significant at 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg with median raphé self-stimulation, a significant decrease in lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation was only observed at 80 mg/kg. As baseline response rates differed in the two self-stimulation sites, a second group of animals with lateral hypothalamic sites (n = 6) were tested with quipazine (2.5-7.1 mg/kg) at an overall baseline response rate matched to that of the median raphé group. Although a tendency to decrease self-stimulation rates was found in this group, these results were not significant. These data suggest, therefore, that median raphé self-stimulation is more sensitive than lateral hypothalamic self stimulation to disruption by the effects of quipazine and tryptamine.