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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Hamish McAllister-WilliamsORCiD, Professor Allan Young
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Complex interactions exist between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the serotonergic system, and it has been suggested that these interactions may be fundamental to the pathophysiology and treatment of depressive illnesses. It has previously been found that chronic administration of corticosterone leads to adrenal suppression and an attenuation of somatodendritic 5-HT(1A) receptor function. Adrenalectomy (ADX) has been shown to cause an increase in postsynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptor numbers and possibly function. However, other reports have suggested that ADX does not alter somatodendritic 5-HT(1A) receptor mRNA or binding, though little is known of the effect of ADX on the function of somatodendritic 5- HT(1A) receptors. This study investigated the effect of markedly reducing corticosterone levels by ADX on 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8- OH-DPAT)-induced hypothermia in mice, an in vivo model of somatodendritic 5- HT(1A) receptor function. The degree of 8-OH-DPAT-induced hypothermia did not differ between control, sham, and ADX animals 14 days post operatively. Although repeated administration of corticosterone attenuates somatodendritic 5-HT(1A) receptor function, these data demonstrate that lowering of corticosteroid levels by ADX have no effect. This suggests that the effects of repeated corticosterone administration is not mediated by a secondary adrenal suppression. The difference in the effects of ADX on somatodendritic as opposed to postsynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors may reflect the differential expression of corticosteroid receptor subtypes at postsynaptic and somatodendritic sites.
Author(s): McAllister-Williams RH, Man MS, Young AH
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Psychopharmacology
Year: 1999
Volume: 142
Issue: 1
Pages: 73-77
Print publication date: 01/01/1999
ISSN (print): 0033-3158
ISSN (electronic): 1432-2072
Publisher: Springer
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002130050864
DOI: 10.1007/s002130050864
PubMed id: 10102785
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