5-HT(1A) agonists induce hippocampal theta activity in freely moving cats: Role of presynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors

Franco Marrosu, Casimir A. Fornal, Christine W. Metzler, Barry L. Jacobs

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Electrical activity in the dorsal hippocampus was recorded in freely moving cats in response to intravenous administration of 5-HT(1A) agonist and antagonist drugs. Administration of low doses of the selective 5-HT(1A) agonists 8-OH-DPAT (5-20 μg/kg) and ipsapirone (20-100 μg/kg) produced rhythmic slow activity (theta) in the hippocampal EEG within 30 s. Similar effects were observed with BMY 7378 (20 and 100 μg/kg), which acts as an agonist at presynaptic (somatodendritic) 5-HT(1A) receptors and as an antagonist at postsynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors. Power spectral analyses showed that all three compounds produced a dose-dependent increase in the EEG power occurring in the theta frequency band (3.5-8.0 Hz) as a proportion of total power from 0.25 to 30.0 Hz (relative theta power). The increase in relative theta power produced by 8-OH-DPAT (20 μg/kg) was greatly attenuated by spiperone (1 mg/kg), a highly effective 5-HT(1A) autoreceptor antagonist. Administration of spiperone alone had no significant effect on relative theta power. These results are discussed in relationship to the effects of these drugs on serotonergic neuronal activity. Our results suggest that preferential activation of presynaptic 5-HT(1A) receptors, and subsequent inhibition of serotonin neurotransmission, facilitates the appearance of hippocampal theta activity in awake cats.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)192-200
Number of pages9
JournalBrain Research
Volume739
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 11 1996

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Molecular Biology
  • General Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology

Keywords

  • 8-OH-DPAT
  • BMY 7378
  • REM sleep
  • cat
  • electroencephalography
  • ipsapirone
  • rhythmic slow activity
  • serotonergic neuronal activity
  • spiperone

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